Bagless vacuum cleaner pioneer Sir James Dyson picked up a £59 million salary and dividend payout last year after seeing profits soar by nearly a fifth, it emerged today.

The Malmesbury group's annual report reveals that the inventor awarded himself a £30 million dividend on top of his £29 million salary following a 9 per cent rise in annual sales and 19 per cent pre-tax profits boost, to £115 million.

Dyson, the company's sole shareholder, also announced today that he has signed up former DSG International chief executive John Clare as a non-executive director.

News of the corporate heavyweight's appointment comes as Dyson is said to be poised to launch in China as it looks to further expand its international footprint.

Dyson has enjoyed a surge in profits since launching overseas, cracking markets such as America, Japan and Australia.

While profits growth has slowed marginally on the 32 per cent hike seen in 2005 and the 139 per cent rise the previous year, they have almost trebled in four years, when the group made pre-tax profits of £43 million.

Turnover has rocketed from £2.4 million in 1993 to £515 million last year.

Its exports have increased three-fold in the past three years, now accounting for 80 per cent of turnover, according to the group.

Dyson also launched in Canada last February bringing its global presence to 45 countries.

Dyson said it had become the top selling vacuum in the country just 12 months after launch, bagging a 25 per cent market share.

The group also put last year's sales success down to the launch of new products, such as the Airblade hand dryer and a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Dyson upped its spend on research and development by 40 per cent to £70 million and increased its Wiltshire-based engineer workforce by a third to 500.

Sir James said Mr Clare's appointment will help the firm with its ambitions for further global growth.

John's been selling our vacuum cleaners for years and we'll benefit from his business acumen as we continue to develop new technology and grow internationally,'' he added.

Mr Clare was one of the City's longest-serving chief executives until his departure from Currys parent DSG in the summer after 13 years at the helm of the electricals giant.

He oversaw DSG's international growth, taking the group to 27 countries under a number of different brands.

Mr Clare joins the Dyson board, headed by chief executive Martin McCourt.

Sir James has so far kept the company private and has retained sole ownership of the group, created on the back of his idea nearly 30 years ago to invent a bagless vacuum cleaner.

He and the Dyson family is listed in 59th place in this year's Sunday Times Rich List, with a £1.08 billion fortune and assets including a £3 million French chateau.

The company is headquartered in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, where it employs more than 1,200 staff.

The firm manufactures all products in Malaysia since a decision in 2002 to offshore the operation, a move which caused outcry, with 500 UK jobs axed under the switch abroad.