EasyJet founder seeks to oust chairman amid Barclays scandal

EasyJet's largest shareholder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has called an extraordinary general meeting to try to force out chairman Sir Michael Rake after he was tipped to take the top job at Barclays. Rake, senior independent director at the crisis-hit bank, has been in the frame to succeed outgoing chairman Marcus Agius, who quit Barclays on Monday amid the Libor scandal. Although he has since been reinstated after the resignation on Tuesday of the bank's chief executive, Bob Diamond, Haji-Ioannou said: "It is clear that, following Bob Diamond's resignation at Barclays, everyone can see Mike Rake's deep conflicts of interest and entrenched positions in the disgraced 'City establishment'. "His lack of diligence at stopping or outing this scandal at one of Britain's major banks now calls into question his ability to hold down four major public company roles simultaneously. I think Mr Conflict of Interest has to let some of it go now." However, easyJet rebuffed suggestions Rake's position would change. A spokesman said: "It's very much business as usual at easyJet, and Mike remains our chair, supported by a high-calibre board and deputy chairman." At a previous EGM called by Stelios in February, 99.56% of shareholders outside Stelios and his family backed the chairman.