Vote down executive pay at Barclays and Standard Chartered, investors told

Pedestrians pass Standard Chartered in London. Glass Lewis advises the bank’s investors, such as pension funds, on how to vote at annual meetings. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Barclays and Standard Chartered face the prospect of rebellions over executive pay after an influential adviser said investors should vote down pay and pensions packages for executives at the FTSE 100 banks.

Investors should defy directors and reject higher base pay for Barclays’ new chief executive and potentially “excessive” pension awards at Standard Chartered, according to Glass Lewis, which advises investors such as pension funds on how to vote at annual meetings.