Non-executive EBS director Ethna Tinney lost her attempt to be re-elected to the board yesterday, though by a relatively narrow margin.
Ms Tinney, a producer with Lyric FM who has been on the board of the EBS since 2000, was opposed by her fellow directors in her bid to be re-elected at the society's annual general meeting in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.
The start of the afternoon meeting was delayed by a half hour as an unexpectedly large number of the society's members attended.
A three-hour meeting then ensued which was dominated by the issue of Ms Tinney and matters raised by her concerning the EBS and its board. Some 1,200 people attended the meeting and thousands more expressed their view by way of proxy votes. In the event Ms Tinney lost, with 9,417 votes for her re-election and 10,252 votes against. Chairman Mark Moran said afterwards the vote was a "clear mandate for the board and a clear outcome".
Ms Tinney said she was "not at all disappointed, and that's from the heart. I didn't think I had any chance whatsoever to win the proxy vote." Earlier Ms Tinney told the meeting her colleagues on the board "want me gone and want that vry badly".
However, she wanted to "continue to promote the interests of the members". Mr Moran told the meeting an effective board needed independent directors who "work well together to resolve their difficulties".
The decision not to support Ms Tinney had not been taken lightly. "All the directors ask you not to support Ethna Tinney".
Non-executive director Cathal Magee said he had urged the board to renominate Ms Tinney in the interests of the board's stability. But he added: "Given the damaging events of recent weeks, my view now is that Ethna Tinney's re-election is not tenable." He said he would like to acknowledge Ms Tinney's contribution over the years.
The meeting was addressed by journalist and Senator Shane Ross, who has campaigned for Ms Tinney in recent weeks.
Also speaking from the floor society member Mary Caffrey strongly criticised Mr Ross whom, she said, was a "self-serving, publicity-seeking individual, both as a journalist and a politician". Ms Caffrey is the wife of the EBS chief executive, Ted McGovern.
