EasyJet directors suffer shareholder revolt

EasyJet directors have suffered a significant rebellion after the airline’s founder and biggest shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, voted against their re-election. The airline said that 42% of shareholders voted against the reappointment of top directors, including CE Johan Lundgren, CFO Andrew Findlay and chairman John Barton at its annual meeting on Wednesday. Sir Stelios, a longstanding critic of easyJet’s leadership, owns about 30% of the company along with his family and had previously said he would vote against the board. In May, Sir Stelios lost his attempt to oust four directors, including the airline’s chairman and chief executive, after more than 99% of votes cast by independent shareholders at an extraordinary meeting backed the board. Sir Stelios has clashed with the low-cost carrier he founded in 1995 over a multibillion-pound order for 107 Airbus aircraft. A week before the meeting in May, he offered a reward for information that could lead to the cancellation of the airline’s contract with Airbus. EasyJet said it would “continue to engage with shareholders to discuss their concerns but understands [the vote against the board] was predominantly as a result of the company’s largest shareholder (and its related parties) voting against these resolutions”.<br/>