Influential proxy adviser Ownership Matters has admitted its recommendation Harvey Norman shareholders vote against the re-election of chief executive Katie Page and in favour of corporate governance crusader Stephen Mayne has no chance of succeeding.

Ownership Matters director Dean Paatsch said the recommendations were made to send a message to the company, which has long resisted pressure to appoint more independent directors, and wouldn't succeed given the 31 per cent stake held by executive chairman Gerry Harvey and the 16.5 per cent held by the family of co-founder Ian Norman.