Yahoo's Mayer receives $36m in first six months as CEO

Figures revealed along with shareholder plans to curb board pay

Yahoo boss Marissa Mayer took home $36m (£23m) in her first six months in the role of CEO at the California-based internet firm.

The figure was revealed in a proxy filing ahead of Yahoo's annual shareholder meeting next month, where investors are expected to voice concern over excessive pay at board level.

According to the proxy filing, Yahoo's June stakeholder meeting will see changes to pay and other financial rewards tied more closely to executive and corporate performance.

"These changes were in response both to concerns raised by our shareholders as well as the deep conviction on the part of our new compensation committee that the Yahoo compensation programme needed a much greater focus on pay for performance," said the Yahoo proxy statement, as reported by The Financial Times.

"The new compensation committee, which highly values shareholder input and believes in a disciplined pay-for-performance approach to executive compensation, set out to establish rigorous, performance-oriented compensation programs."

Mayer's total salary stands at $6m (£4m), with the remaining $30m (£19m) in the form of stock awards, with each share valued at $19.90 (£12.78).

The Yahoo CEO introduced a ban on staff working from home, effective as of February this year, a move which has come under criticism. Breaking her silence on the policy last month, Mayer suggested requiring employees to attend Yahoo's offices means "they're more collaborative and innovative when they're together", with "some of the best ideas come from pulling two different ideas together".

The latest change to workplace policy at Yahoo came yesterday as Mayer increased the length of paid maternity leave. Yahoo staff who become new mothers will be able to take up to a total of 16 weeks fully-paid leave, while new fathers are able to take eight weeks on full salary. The firm will also provide $500 (£321) in expenses for childcare.

The new policies push Yahoo closer to maternity benefits offered by the likes of Facebook and Google.