A report in the Independent on Sunday said that the National Association of Pension Funds, which manages 拢650bn worth of pensions, has recommended that members abstain from re-electing Bullmore, a former chairman of J Walter Thompson, and Morten, a biotechnology investor, to the board at next week's annual general meeting.
However, a spokesman for WPP said that proxy voting to date for both Bullmore and Morten was "overwhelmingly in favour of their re-election". There are five more days voting to go before WPP's annual general meeting on June 24.
He said: "Jeremy Bullmore does contribute a vast amount to the company and his experience in our sector is important to the board." He also said that WPP would like Morten to continue in his role on the compensation committee.
NAPF had argued that both directors are not seen as independent -- a factor that is increasingly important in the post-Enron world. However, WPP said that Bullmore, who also receives a consultancy fee from WPP, was never classed as an independent board director.
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