AstraZeneca CEO has £18.7m pay approved despite shareholder rebellion

More than a third of votes were cast against the package for Pascal Soriot, called excessive' by some

AstraZeneca has suffered a shareholder rebellion against an 18.7m pay packet for the pharmaceutical company's chief executive, Pascal Soriot, with more than a third of the votes cast opposing the deal.

At its annual meeting in London 35.5% rejected the company's remuneration policy, rising to 38.5% including withheld votes. In addition 34.7% voted against amendments to the company's performance share plan.