EasyGroup Calls For Removal Of Fastjet Chairman

African budget airline Fastjet's second-largest shareholder, easyGroup, asked the company to call for a general meeting seeking the removal of Chairman Colin Child.

EasyGroup, controlled by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, said it had lost faith in Child, who was appointed chairman in September, as he had failed to appoint a new chief executive and relocate the airline's head office from London Gatwick to Tanzania.

Fastjet announced in March the departure of chief executive Ed Winter, bowing to pressure from easyGroup, which holds a 12.6 percent stake.

Easygroup, in a letter made public on Friday, told the board that if Child is voted off the board, the company should promote internally someone who is based in Dar-es-Salaam to be acting CEO and appoint director Rob Burnham as interim chairman.

Fastjet said it would make a further announcement regarding the proposed general meeting in due course.

Haji-Ioannou, best known as the founder of Europe's easyJet, has over the past few months been critical Fastjet for having a high cost base. He has also threatened to take back the brand.