British media company Granada said today it would not back the chairman of its merger partner Carlton Communications, who has faced calls by shareholders to step down.
The Granada board said it has decided shareholder interests "will best be served by the appointment of a new chairman from outside the enlarged ITV Plc."
ITV Plc, the product of the Carlton/Granada merger, will be Britain's largest commercial TV broadcaster.
A group of large institutional investors led by US fund manager Fidelity issued an ultimatum last week for Carlton Chairman Michael Green to step down by noon today.
It said it would call an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders if its demands were not met.
