Paul Pindar, the controversial non-exec chairman of Purplebricks, has upped his shareholding in the online agency with the purchase of over 1.5 million more shares in the company.

A statement to the Stock Exchange this morning revealed he purchased 1,537,000 ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the share capital at a volume weighted average price of 16.96p per share between 12 August and 16 August 2022.

The statement adds: “Following the Purchase, Paul Pindar and Sharon Pindar, a person closely associated, together hold 15,618,056 Shares representing 5.09% of the total issued share capital.”

Pindar was one of the company’s founding backers but has recently faced calls for him to resign.

His share purchase follows news that Helen Marston, Purplebricks’ chief executive and Stephen Long, the online agency’s chief financial officer, have both signed up to the firm’s long-term incentive plan.

Purplebricks is scheduled to hold its Annual General Meeting on 14 September.