Following an investor revolt over executive pay at the oil company's annual meeting, board members are setting out on a charm offensive.

A "three strand" roadshow of directors and top executives is planned to rebuild relationships with major investors after shareholders voted 60% against the board's remuneration report. The revolt concerned the payment of £3.6 million in share awards to five top executives even though the group failed to meet the targets that would trigger such payments.

The Guardian report quotes fund managers complaining that companies have not woken up to the realities of the aftermath of the crisis. Fund managers are likely to remain activist for the foreseeable future having come in for criticism for being asleep on the job (as owners) while the crisis was taking shape.