During his first year in the top job Fankhauser took home a base salary of £585,000 with the remainder made up of a bonus, share incentives and pension contributions, according to the company’s annual report.

The figure represents a significant rise on the amount his predecessor Harriet Green received in her final year as chief executive.

However, Green still continued to be paid by even after leaving her role in November 2014.

She was paid £248,000 as an executive director and after fully stepping down at the end of December 2014, she continued to be paid until June 30, 2015, receiving £451,000.

Green was also handed £5.6 million from a share award scheme. She donated a third of this to charity.

2015 was a mixed year for Thomas Cook. It was roundly criticised for its handling of the inquest into the deaths of two children on one of its holidays in 2006.

However, under Fankhauser the company returned to profit for the first time in five years.