Swedish incumbent TeliaSonera has launched legal action against the chairman of Turkish mobile operator Turkcell over alleged impartiality violations.
TeliaSonera, which has a 38% share in Turkcell, accuses Colin Williams of blocking attempts to increase…
Swedish incumbent TeliaSonera has launched legal action against the chairman of Turkish mobile operator Turkcell over alleged impartiality violations.
TeliaSonera, which has a 38% share in Turkcell, accuses Colin Williams of blocking attempts to increase the number of its independent board members.
Williams, the only independent member of the Turkish company’s Board, has also acted against the law by failing to hold an AGM on the issue, according to TeliaSonera.
Cecilia Edstrom, senior VP and head of group communications at TeliaSonera, said: “Following the law is a minimum requirement for a chairman of a major listed international company. We also believe that issues regarding corporate governance should be openly discussed and decided by all shareholders at the AGM and not be blocked behind closed doors by a minority of the Board.
“We take the fact that Colin Williams has been blocking certain vital corporate governance issues as evidence that he is not acting as an independent member and impartial chairman of the Board of Turkcell. He should therefore be removed from his duties, in order not to cause the company and its shareholders any further damage.”
Turkcell did not respond to requests for comment.
