AGL Energy’s board has set the scene for another fiery stoush with its biggest shareholder, Mike Cannon-Brookes, after rejecting three of the four director candidates put forward by the tech billionaire’s private firm, which attacked the move as a “poor decision”.

The board, led by new chairman Patricia McKenzie, is advising shareholders to vote against the election of former Energy Security Board chairman Kerry Schott, as well as John Pollaers and Christine Holman.