Major Booktopia Group shareholder Nick Burton Taylor says he was “taken by surprise” by co-founder and former CEO Tony Nash’s move to partially spill the board, urging a quick resolution so management can focus on fixing the online bookseller’s fortunes.

Mr Burton Taylor, who is a former chairman and CEO of major beef producer Australian Agricultural Company, emerged as a significant shareholder in Booktopia on August 18. This was the same day that ousted CEO Mr Nash was lobbying to call an extraordinary general meeting to dump several directors and install former forensic accountant Abigail Cheadle to the board.