CEO's Compensation Surges by Over Double as Profits Soar at Trainline
Trainline CEO Jody Ford's compensation more than doubles following substantial profit growth
Trainline's latest financial year has seen a substantial boost to the pay packet of its chief executive, Jody Ford, with the executive taking home £5.6 million according to the company's annual report. This represents a significant increase from the £2.4 million Ford was remunerated the previous year.
A significant portion of this financial boost comes from £3.6 million in vested shares that matured at the end of the period, as per the annual report. The vested shares are part of a performance-based compensation plan that aligns executive pay with company performance.
Trainline reported a robust financial performance for the year ending February 2025, with a pre-tax profit of £80.8 million, up from £48.1 million in the previous 12 months. Additionally, the company's revenue increased over the same period, reaching £442 million, up from £396.7 million.
The company's results, filed with the London Stock Exchange, also indicated strong growth with performance against strategic targets for the annual bonus falling below the set threshold, emphasizing the ambitious nature of the targets set.
Remuneration committee chair Rakhi Goss-Custard, writing in Trainline's annual report, acknowledged the instrumental role played by Ford and CFO Pete Wood in delivering on the objectives set by the committee despite regulatory uncertainties and growth requirements in the International business. As a result, 88% of the FY2023 PSP award for the CEO and CFO will vest.
Share awards for the wider employee population will similarly vest in early FY2026, sharing the success of this performance across the business.
[1] Strong financial performance fueling executive pay increase, City AM[2] Trainline's revenue boosted by increased net ticket sales and monetization strategies, City AM
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- The substantial increase in Trainline's CEO, Jody Ford's pay, amounting to £5.6 million, was predominantly driven by technology-based compensation strategies, such as the vested shares from a performance-based plan.
- The boost in Trainline's transport sector business, characterized by increased net ticket sales and smart monetization, positively impacted the company's profit growth in finance, thereby enhancing the competitive edge in the business landscape.
