CDA Health co-founder and former Vitura Health chief medical officer Ben Jansen has renewed his conflict with his one-time employer, nominating himself as a director of the company a year after his bitter exit.
Jansen is among four candidates seeking election to the board at next month's annual general meeting, following a resolution put forward by his wife, Elizabeth, who acts as trustee of Standard Investment Trust — one of Vitura's largest shareholders.
Former chairman Shane Tanner, who stepped down in April 2022 citing a desire to "pursue private investments," is also among those bidding for a board seat.
The remaining two candidates have been identified as Nathan Hight and Mariota Smutz.
The resolution is likely to unsettle Vitura's senior management, which was forced to fend off comparable attempts to reshape the board ahead of last year's AGM.
At that time, Dr Jansen's cousin, Matua Jansen, tabled a motion to remove chief executive Rodney Cocks and fellow director Guy Headley, while Elizabeth Jansen pursued her husband's re-election after he had left the company amid allegations of "a repeated pattern of inappropriate behaviour, lack of judgment and poor performance".
Elizabeth Jansen withdrew her resolution at the last moment, with both the Jansen family and Vitura expressing "regret" that the relationship "had started to erode."
"Moving forward, Cronos Australia (now Vitura) and Benjamin Jansen are both committed to seeing the company develop and grow into a global leader in the medicinal cannabis industry and beyond," the company said at the time.
Jansen, quoted in The Australian regarding the current bid to return to the company, said: "In the forthcoming years, steadfast governance will be imperative as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of Australia's medicinal cannabis industry, all in pursuit of delivering maximum value to our stakeholders and shareholders. No further comments are warranted at this juncture."
Dr Jansen and Vitura have each been contacted separately for comment.
