£5.4 bonus for Burberry woman

The boss who transformed the fortunes of Burberry has cemented her position as one of the City's highest-paid women by cashing in £5.4million worth of shares.

Rose Marie Bravo, a glamorous 53-year-old American, hired supermodel Kate Moss to help turn the traditional clothing brand into a trendy global success.

The firm's chief executive is also in line for future lucrative share options as a reward for her success in making trench coats fashionable again since taking charge in 1997.

On top of her £1million-a-year pay package, Miss Bravo was given a 1pc share stake plus lucrative options when Burberry's parent company GUS floated on the stockmarket in 2002.

Yesterday, it emerged that she

has cashed in one million shares worth £3.79million and made £1.6million more from her option award.

Her mouthwatering package for the group, which also owns Argos, has drawn envy from many in the business world.

Last year, she received £ 2.1million in salary and bonus as well as enjoying other perks - including a £10,000 clothing allowance, chauffeur- driven car and free London apartment with maid.

Although her payout may infuriate some investors, she has won plaudits for achieving a remarkable turnaround.

The firm is now valued at £1.9billion compared to £ 200million when Miss Bravo was poached from U.S. department store Saks Fifth Avenue.

Its shares closed last night at 372p, but were valued at only 230 p at the company ' s floatation. Her hiring of fashion icon Miss Moss marked a turning point in Burberry's fortunes.

Since then, Miss Bravo has built on her success by launching bright pink and floral coats, and even introducing a cropped trench coat for warmer weather.

The rising fortunes of the brand have been put down to widening its appeal from being a

label for only the social elite.

Although its clothes are still worn by the Royals, the Burberry baseball cap and knee-length raincoat are now just as likely to be worn by football supporters as aristocrats.

The Burberry print has also made its mark on fashionable bikinis as sported by the girlfriends of England football stars Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen before Euro 2004 and actress Daniella Westbrook.

Cherie Blair has also been spotted in the brand, wearing Burberry boots with a matching bag at the 2000 state opening of Parliament.

The Prime Minister's wife has become a friend of Miss Bravo after meeting her eight years ago at a fashion show.

The two have met several times during the Burberry boss's visits to Downing Street in her capacity as a leading businesswoman.

Miss Bravo, the daughter of immigrant Italians, was brought up in New York's tough Bronx district

She has been married to second husband Bill Jackey, a furniture industry executive, since 1983 and is step-mother to his two children from a previous marriage.

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