Sports Direct chairman survives key vote

A majority of independent shareholders in retailer Sport Direct yesterday backed under-fire chairman Keith Hellawell to stay in post at the AGM, but with a significant revolt against him.

The former West Yorkshire Police chief constable and government drugs tsar saw 53.24 per cent of independent shareholders vote in favour of his reappointment, while 46.76 per cent opposed it.

Senior independent director Simon Bentley also scraped a majority backing from independent Sports Direct shareholders, with 55.3 per cent in favour of his appointment and 44.7 per cent voting against.

The vote came after Royal London Asset Management, Standard Life Aberdeen and Hermes joined shareholder advisory firms including Institutional Shareholder Services and Pirc to oppose Hellawell’s reappointment ahead of the AGM.

Sports Director founder and boss Mike Ashley, who owns 61 per cent of the firm, backed his chairman but was not present.

Hellawell has presided over a series of controversies at the chain, and had pledged to step down if he did not receive the support of a majority of independent shareholders.

The firm faced fresh calls for a review of working conditions, but Hellawell defended its decision to leave temporary staff on contracts without a guaranteed number of hours.

“While that still is a legal form of employment we will choose if we wish to continue with that form of employment. A very large proportion of our workers are happy to maintain that flexibility.” 0 Keith Hellawell stays as chairman of Sports Direct