Chief executive Eric Meurice of ASML earned 11.2 million euros last year, according to an investigation by the Volkskrant.
This puts Meurice second on the list of highest paid executives in the Netherlands. Only the CEO of cable company Ziggo earned more: his annual income came to almost 16 million euros.The main reason why the CEO of the Veldhoven manufacturer of computer chip machines earned so much was because he cashed in a package of options and shares. The proceeds were added to his salary.According to the Volkskrant, top incomes rose last year. Higher share prices on the stock exchange meant senior executives’ share profits rose. Their golden handshakes also increased.The top ten of highest incomes also includes the CEOs of Shell, Heineken and Unilever. Philips’ CEO, Frans van Houten, occupies ninth place.
