Ben Van Beurden’s total pay and perks for his role as Royal Dutch Shell’s chief executive, rose to €8.6 million for last yearERIC PIERMONT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Shareholders in Royal Dutch Shell have been urged to oppose “excessive” executive pay after the oil giant awarded its boss a 54 per cent pay rise.

Pirc, the investor group, criticised Shell’s remuneration report, which showed that Ben van Beurden’s total pay and perks rose to €8.6 million for 2016, up from €5.6 million in 2015. Pirc said this was “excessive at 453 per cent of salary” and urged shareholders to vote against the report at the annual general meeting on May 23.

Pirc also opposed the “termination arrangements” for Simon Henry, Shell’s chief financial officer who stood down in March and will get €2.3 million for “loss of office”. Shell also agreed to pay a pro-rated annual bonus for 2017, and his salary of…