Victoria rebels oust chairman of carpet firm
A SHAREHOLDER rebellion at carpet firm Victoria yesterday saw the firm’s chair, Katherine Innes Ker, ousted and two directors re-appointed to the board, less than two months after they were forced to stand down.
More than two-thirds of votes at a special general meeting yesterday were made in favour of removing Innes Ker and non-executive director David Garman, with three new board members appointed.
Geoff Wilding and Alexander Anton – who were made to resign from the board in August after a dispute over pay proposals – were voted on, with Wilding becoming executive chairman. Their ally Andrew Harrison was also appointed. The meeting brings to an end a vicious six-month power struggle between the directors.
Before the meeting, Innes Ker (pictured) accepted she was likely to be voted off, but called for scrutiny of the new directors. “Our campaign has ensured that the new directors of Victoria will be fully accountable for their actions and stewardship of the business,” she said.