Members vote to shape the future of the Co-op at AGM

21 May 2016

Co-op Group held its 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) today with over 700 members attending the event at Manchester Central.

Key highlights from the meeting were:

Election of Directors to the Board

• It was announced that Margaret Casely-Hayford and Hazel Blears were elected as Member Nominated Directors to represent members’ interests on the Group Board.
• In addition, Lord Victor Adebowale, Simon Burke, Peter Plumb and Stevie Spring were elected as Independent Non-Executive Directors.
• Richard Pennycook and Ian Ellis were elected as Executive Directors.

Political donations

• Members mandated the Group to make political donations on an annual basis until 31 December 2017.

After the AGM, the Co-op also announced the launch of a new range of benefits for members and their communities that will be launched this autumn and a return to its iconic clover-leaf logo, which will be rolled-out across its businesses in the next 3 to 5 years.

The full results of the Co-op AGM voting are as follows:

Motions

To receive the Annual Report and Accounts for the 52 weeks ended 2 January 2016

Carried For – 97.48%
Against – 2.52%

To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the 52 weeks 2 January 2016

Carried For –91.47%
Against – 8.53%

To approve the Executive Remuneration Policy

Carried For – 90.08%
Against – 9.92%

To re-elect Richard Pennycook as an Executive Director

Elected For – 95.19%
Against – 4.81%

To elect Ian Ellis as an-Executive Director

Elected For – 95.31%
Against – 4.69%

To elect Lord Victor Adebowale as an Independent Non-Executive Director

Elected For – 91.82%
Against – 8.18%

To elect Peter Plumb as an Independent Non-Executive Director

Elected For – 94.44%
Against – 5.56%

To elect Simon Burke as an Independent Non-Executive Director

Elected For – 95.12%
Against – 4.88%

To elect Stevie Spring as an Independent Non-Executive Director

Elected For – 93.42%
Against – 6.58%

To appoint Ernst & Young LLP as the Society’s auditors

Carried For – 96.11%
Against – 3.89%

To approve amendments to the Society’s Rules

Carried For – 96.48%
Against – 3.52%

Joint motion from Board and Council - Political Donations

Carried For – 78.32%
Against – 21.68%

Motion from Council – Member Voice

Carried For – 98.49%
Against – 1.51%

Motion from Council – Ethics and Sustainability

Carried For – 97.73%
Against – 2.27%

Motion from Council – Co-operation between Co-operatives

Carried For – 98.89%
Against – 1.11%

Motion from Council – Colleagues and National Living Wage

Carried For – 98.68%
Against – 1.32%

Independent Society Members - Fairtrade

Carried For – 94.20%
Against – 5.80%

Results for the election of Member Nominated Directors

• Margaret Casely-Hayford - Elected
• Hazel Blears - Elected
• David Rodgers - Not Elected