That compares with 6% in the previous year’s survey, as companies hit targets across the board.

Deloitte’s survey of executive remuneration said that 3% of directors as a whole did not get bonuses, against 6% the previous year.

FD pay increased by 7.4% over the year, a similar rate of increase to other executives but twice the rate paid to staff in general.

The firm also found the number of executive directors had fallen by 20% in the past five years - equating to a loss of almost 360 positions.

According to Carol Arrowsmith, head of the remuneration team at Deloitte, the decline is due to corporate governance guidelines that require half the board to be independent. ‘Most companies have a main board and an executive committee. Some people are sitting on the executive committee and not being promoted to the main board,’ she said.