Moya Greene took over as chief executive of Royal Mail in 2010
Moya Greene, the chief executive of Royal Mail, has said the system of setting the pay for the heads of government-backed companies is "hopelessly broken".
Ms Greene also said she had been "deeply offended" by criticism of her pay and benefits.
She was replying to an email from a member of the public, who questioned the £250,000 housing allowance she had been given and then offered to return.
Her reply was sent to the Guardian.
Ms Greene received almost £1.5m in pay and benefits in the last financial year.
"I took on a company in grave difficulty," she wrote in her email.
"I was here for a full 15 months before officials and/or ministers deigned to explain the exact basis upon which I would be paid. I had long resigned my previous position."
Source: BBC News - Business http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23849505#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
