Paul Grammer left railway last April to set up own QS business

Crossrail鈥檚 fromer commercial director Paul Grammer was handed compenation of more than 拢77,000 for losing his job, the railway鈥檚 latest accounts reveal.

Grammer, who picked up 拢243,000 in the 12 months to March 2019, his last full year of employment at Crossrail, left his role in December 2018 but did not formally leave the business until the end of April last year.

Crossrail - Whitechapel station - Feb 2020 (1)

Source: Crossrail Ltd

Whitechapel is one of two stations where fit-out work is some way behind the rest on the central section of the line

The accounts for the period to March 2020 show Grammer was given 拢77,500 in 鈥渃ompensation for loss of employment鈥.

Grammer joined the business after leaving Laing O鈥橰ourke in October 2014 where he was that firm鈥檚 European commercial director.

According to documents filed at Companies House, the 58-year-old set up a QS business, Paul Grammer Ltd, at the beginning of last year.

The accounts also reveal that Crossrail, which spent 拢1.1bn during the period, paid out a 拢100,000 retention payment to deputy chief executive Chris Sexton during the year. His boss Mark Wild, who took up the role in November 2018, was awarded a 拢31,692 bonus although this relates to his previous role as chief executive of London Underground..

Another to pick up a bonus was former Crossrail head of assurance Jeremy Bates who was paid 拢67,320. Bates, who left the railway in November last year, was also handed a salary of just over 拢96,000 in the period.

The payments covered the 2018/19 financial year but Crossrail pays them out 12 months in arrears.

In all, Crossrail spent just under 拢1.7m on directors鈥 salaries with Wild the highest paid, picking up 拢446,000 during the period. Non-executive chairman Tony Meggs was paid 拢200,000.

The accounts also reveal the railway furloughed a 鈥渟mall number of employees鈥 because of the covid-19 pandemic and had made use of the government鈥檚 Jobs Retention Scheme.

Crossrail said much of the central section of the railway is now complete with fit-out nearing the end at all its stations except Bond Street and Whitechapel.

Over the summer, the railway said the line would open in the first half of 2022 instead of summer next year. It had originally been due to open in December 2018.

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