EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou refused to support any of the airline board’s resolutions at its annual meeting yesterday.
He had warned that he would stage a token protest against the re-election of the budget airline’s chairman, John Barton, in a row over the carrier’s dividend policy.
Sir Stelios wants a bigger payout that could be worth £100 million a year to him and his family.
However, when easyJet released the results of polling on 20 separate resolutions, it emerged that he had refused to back the re-election of all the directors, including chief executive Carolyn McCall, the Times reported.
The polling results showed that the 134 million shares in easyJet owned by Sir Stelios’s easyGroup, accounting for nearly 34% of the company, were not voted except a token 20 million shares Sir Stelios pitched against Barton.
Sir Stelios made no comment on his voting decisions despite having criticised the airline’s dividend policy ahead of the meeting.
Barton said at the meeting at the carrier’s Luton base: “Through the continued delivery of easyJet’s successful strategy and our relentless focus on cost the airline is on track to deliver another year of growth in revenue, profit and dividends.
“The board would also like to thank all of easyJet’s people who are central to the delivery of the airline’s success.
“They help create easyJet’s unique and winning combination of Europe’s best route network, great value fares and our famous friendly service.”