Rightmove chief executive Peter Brooks-Johnson has sold almost £3.4m worth of shares after exercising three sets of options.

In each case he sold under half of the shares he acquired to cover tax and other deductions, and retained the rest of the shares.

In the first, he exercised the right to acquire 66,170 deferred shares awarded at nil cost in March 2016 in respect of his 2015 financial year bonus, ahead of the last exercise date of February 28, 2019.

He subsequently sold 31,233 shares at an average price of £4.37 per share and retained the balance of 34,937 shares.

In the second, he exercised the right to acquire 260,210 performance shares awarded at nil cost in May 2014, including rolled-up dividend payments of 8,810 shares, ahead of the last exercise date of next March 2.

He subsequently sold 122,820 shares at an average price of £4.37 per share, retaining the balance of 137,390 shares.

Finally he exercised the right to acquire 1,392,860 shares under an unapproved executive option awarded in March 2009 (which would otherwise lapse next March 4) at an exercise price of £0.224 per share.

The shares were net settled and Brooks-Johnson subsequently sold 623,440 shares at a price of £4.37 per share and retained the balance of 697,406 shares.

Following these transactions, the beneficial shareholding of Brooks-Johnson in Rightmove is 1,771,493 ordinary shares, representing 0.198% of the ordinary shares in issue (excluding shares held in treasury).

He also holds unapproved options over 525,530 ordinary shares, Sharesave options over 8,083 ordinary shares, 103,900 deferred shares, and 871,810 performance shares.

Brookes-Johnson became Rightmove’s CEO in May last year.

Yesterday, Rightmove shares closed at £4.54, up about 2% over the day, but well down from an all-time high of £5.35 last June.