Qantas’ Todd Sampson was granted a pardon by proxy. Others are not so lucky

The leading proxy consulting firm that offered qualified approval for Todd Sansão remaining on the Qantas board last year is now taking on a slightly more punitive feel. Shareholders would vote against longtime board member and former Cathay Pacific executive Anthony Tyler.

Such, we assume, are the prerogatives of the country’s leading proxy advisory firms, which provide voting recommendations at the General Assembly to subscribing institutional investors. Arguing against boards of directors, executives and their high-powered lawyers on issues such as director elections and corporate salaries is not always easy, and some see red in the fact that various proxy firms do not always agree with each other. There is no reason why they would. However, it would be nice if governance analysts at least agreed among themselves.

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