Tim Martin wins support of JD Wetherspoon investors warding off ousting bid

JD Wetherspoon investors have given chief executive and founder Tim Martin their backing, despite calls for his removal from the company's board.

Martin was yesterday reelected with the support of more than 98% of shareholders despite advisory group Pirc urging investors to reject the annual report and oust him from the board.

The landlord, who has been in the role 40 years, told investors he would "like to do another 40".

Other board members, who have served for longer than the recommended nine years, were also reelected, although not quite as enthusiastically as Martin.

Ahead of the general meeting the chief executive had hit out at such rules in a company financial update describing them promoting "short-termism, inexperience and navel-gazing".

Investors approved all motions put before them at the annual meeting.