LONDON (AFX) - Non-executive directors at Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC are threatening to resign over chairman Sir Ken Morrison's failure to appoint a new chief executive at the UK food retailer, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported, citing insiders.
A number of directors will consider tendering their resignations if a new CEO is not announced by the company's annual meeting in May, it said.
The boardroom tension centres on Sir Ken's desire to appoint an internal candidate.
However, the non-executive directors -- David Jones, Brian Flanagan, Susan Murray, Nigel Robertson, and Paul Manduca -- favour an external candidate. The issue will head the agenda at Morrison's next board meeting on April 6.
Headhunter Egon Zehnder was believed to have considered Richard Cousins, the former chief executive of BPB PLC, for the role.
Cousins was however appointed chief executive of Compass, the catering group, last Friday. monicca.egoy@afxnews.com mbe/hjp COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited