The chief executive at Home Depot, the US home improvement retailer, has bowed to investor pressure over fat cat payouts and poor stock performance by abruptly resigning, taking with him a severance package valued at $210m (€159.5m).

Bob Nardelli's package includes a cash severance payment of $20m, a retirement benefits payment valued at approximately $32m, $77m in stock options and shares worth $44m among other benefits. Nardelli also agreed to a one year non-compete period with the firm.