The Australian Shareholders’ Association is calling for Gerry Harvey to be removed as Harvey Norman executive chairman after a heated exchange with the retail veteran about the company’s accounts.

Harvey dismissed questions around the transparency of his franchisees’ accounts raised by the ASA during the company’s annual general meeting on Monday, and accused short-sellers of fabricating the concerns in a bid to drive down the value of Harvey Norman’s shares.

ASA chair Diana D’Ambra said incomplete reporting of the company’s controlled entities was partly behind the association’s decision to oppose the accounts.

And while the resolution passed at Monday’s AGM, the ASA has taken the issue further by releasing a statement on Tuesday calling for Harvey to be replaced as chairman by an independent non-executive director.

The ASA said it also wants the Harvey Norman board to call tenders on the 2016-17 audit with a view to making a change to introduce a “fresh set of eyes.”

AAP

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