Dick Grasso, chairman and chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange, has called for a special meeting of the exchange's board to head off attempts to force him to resign over his $140m (€125m) pay package.

Grasso has asked for a meeting with fellow NYSE directors next Wednesday to discuss the mounting protest against his pay. The board will also review the preliminary findings and recommendations of the NYSE's special committee which was created to review the governance of the exchange.