Standard Life Aberdeen, the £550bn UK fund manager, could face a shareholder rebellion if investors follow through on concerns raised by an influential voting adviser over the pay package offered to its incoming chief financial officer.

Stephanie Bruce, who joins the Edinburgh-headquartered asset manager on June 1, will receive a £525,000 salary — about 17% higher than her predecessor, Bill Rattray, who is retiring at the end of May after more than three decades at the group.