New ITV boss could net £15 million, if he repeats the success he had with the Royal Mail

The deal will dwarf the 46-year-old's rewards from his controversy-dogged spell as head of the state-owned postal business.

Mr Crozier will be given a basic salary of around £800,000, similar to that of his predecessor Michael Grade, and a bonus worth up to 150 per cent of this amount.

This means he could earn £2million a year in an incentive scheme designed to tie Mr Crozier to ITV for five years.

But the man who is the third-best paid civil servant in Britain  -  or the best-paid if the banking bosses are excluded  -  will also be awarded shares which could be worth up to £5million. No date has yet been set for Mr Crozier's start, but it is likely to be April.

It is understood the number of shares the Scot will be awarded depend on the performance of the commercial broadcaster during his first three years in the job.

He will not be given any of the shares for a further two years and they will only be awarded if he steers ITV to success. This will be compared against rival media companies and the broadcaster's targets.

Since Mr Crozier joined Royal Mail in February 2003, around 5,800 Post Offices have shut down, second post was axed, and nearly 54,000 workers have left.

Mr Crozier received a pay package of £995,000 last year, according to latest figures from the company. He has also built up a pension pot worth nearly £1million.

Yesterday an ITV spokesman said the value of Mr Crozier's pay package will depend on the performance of the company and its share price.