LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Some 19% of votes cast at

Ocado's ( OCDGF ) annual shareholder meeting on Monday opposed

the online grocer and technology group's proposed new pay policy

that could see boss Tim Steiner pick up a bonus share award of

up to 15 million pounds ($19 million).

The FTSE 100 group, which sells its robotic technology to

retailers around the world and also has an online supermarket

joint venture with Marks & Spencer ( MAKSF ), put forward a new

remuneration policy and performance share plan as its previous

scheme comes to an end this year.

Some advisory groups had urged investors to vote against the

new policy and plan, saying the changes could lead to excessive

payouts.

High executive pay in Britain has long been contentious,

particularly where pay for ordinary workers has risen more

slowly.

According to a stock market filing from Ocado ( OCDGF ), 19.43% of

votes cast at the meeting opposed the remuneration policy and

19.38% of votes cast opposed the group's 2024 performance share

plan. Resolutions on both still passed comfortably, however.

The plan could see Steiner, Ocado's ( OCDGF ) chief executive, awarded

shares worth up to 14.8 million pounds, or 1,800% of his annual

base salary of 824,570 pounds, from 2027 if the group's share

price hits 29.69 pounds.

Ocado ( OCDGF ) shares closed at 357 pence on Monday.

The proposed payout reflects Steiner's "unique position as a

founder and his longer-term focus and strategic vision," Ocado ( OCDGF )

said in its annual report published in February.

Founded by three former Goldman Sachs bankers, including

Steiner, in 2000, Ocado ( OCDGF ) has divided opinion like few other

stocks.

Some view it as the future of grocery shopping, while others

see it as a costly and complicated venture that will never make

sustained profits.

The stock hit a record high during the pandemic, which

triggered a boom in online spending, but has tumbled since and

is down 29% year-on-year.

Last year, 30% of votes cast at Ocado's ( OCDGF ) annual meeting

opposed the directors' pay report and there was similar

opposition at 2020's meeting against a pay report which included

a 58.7 million pound package for Steiner.

($1 = 0.7970 pounds)