Esprit directors try to oust ex-chairman

NEWS The directors of Esprit Telecom are involved in a bitter dispute with former chairman, Walt Anderson. The company has called an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), where it will try to convince shareholders to oust Anderson, one of the company's co-founders, from the board. The meeting will be held in London on 23 November. A spokesman for Esprit said the action is not completely offensive, claiming that Washington DC-based Anderson has tabled five motions in which he will try to get rid of the company's current chairman and chief executive. As he holds more than 10 per cent of Esprit's stock, Anderson is entitled to call shareholder meetings for such purposes. "It's fair to say the current relationship [between Esprit and Anderson] can be described as strained," said the spokesman. He added that Esprit wants to move forward with a "high-standing European head with considerable stature in the industry." That man is Robin Biggam, who was appointed on 5 October.