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Bosses balk as banker poaching war sees 50% surge in salaries: ‘Everyone’s paying more and more’

'You’re likely to have your best year ever in 2021. You should try to leverage that with your current employer, or the next one'

'Pay expectations have become ridiculously high,' says one head of investment banking
'Pay expectations have become ridiculously high,' says one head of investment banking Photo: Getty Images

The talent war for top dealmakers is heating up. But some bosses have had enough.

Firms are increasingly wary of shelling out too much for new recruits, as salaries have surged by as much as 50% in the past six months, according to conversations with nine top bankers, headhunters and compensation experts. The boom is thanks to an unprecedented demand for top talent amid a frenzy in deals this year.

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