Is honesty the best policy? Why brands should be open about their weaknesses June 24, 2019 Marketing can be complex, with so many sophisticated models, fancy processes, long words, plus various funnels, pyramids, and flow diagrams to help make people look clever. And the growing importance of data has added complexity to the way in which we plan the strategies behind advertising campaigns. But as the legendary ad man Bill Bernbach [...]
The founder of The Sole Supplier on switching up how we buy footwear June 24, 2019 Earlier in June, thousands of people queued up outside shoe stores to buy a new pair of trainers designed by musician Kanye West. The latest set of Adidas “Yeezys” cost £180 each. But many of the people buying these shoes weren’t just interested in fashion, but in making a profit. Soon after the footwear went [...]
EDF seeks guarantee for nuclear project June 23, 2019 French energy giant EDF wants a government guarantee of help if a £20bn nuclear power station runs over budget. The firm is telling potential investors in its Sizewell C plant that it wants ministers to step in with a guarantee on the project, the Sunday Times reported. Read more: Government headache as Hitachi pulls out [...]
Trump says he could demote US Fed chair Powell but has not threatened to do so June 23, 2019 US President Donald Trump said he has the power to demote US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, but has not threatened to do so. “I didn’t ever threaten to demote him,” Trump said in an NBC interview broadcast yesterday. “I’d be able to do that if I wanted to, but I haven’t suggested that.” Trump [...]
Odey bets against £1.9bn BCA takeover June 23, 2019 Star hedge fund manager Crispin Odey upped his bet against BCA Marketplace this week, even as the company’s shares soared on a takeover approach. Odey, who believes the deal will likely fall through, is preparing to cash in. Read more: City hedge fund giant Crispin Odey backs emerging fintech startup Jumo His firm, Odey Asset [...]
Omnis Investments replaces Woodford with Jupiter Asset Management June 21, 2019 Wealth manager Openwork’s Omnis Investments has chosen Jupiter Asset Management to run a £317m fund that was formally run by Neil Woodford’s firm. Openwork removed Woodford Investment Management from the Omnis Income and Growth fund shortly after Woodford suspended its flagship fund on 3 June. Read more: Hargreaves Lansdown chief executive angered by suspended Woodford [...]
Ex-Barclays boss John Varley cleared of Qatar fraud charges June 21, 2019 Former Barclays chief executive John Varley has been cleared of fraud charges related to Qatari cash injections that helped the bank avoid a state bailout in 2008. Judges at the Court of Appeal ruled that the Serious Fraud Office’s case against Varley was insufficient to proceed. Read more: Ex-Barclays boss says £322m Qatar payment ‘not [...]
There’s a first time for everything… including marrying your friends June 21, 2019 Over the years I’ve ticked off most of the public speaking formats. I’ve enjoyed after dinner speeches, panel discussions, debates and events of all sizes. Last week, I ticked off another category of performance by conducting my friends’ wedding. The only other time I’d been as surprised at a suggestion was when the proprietors of [...]
Households face £172m bill after slew of energy suppliers fail June 21, 2019 The head of Citizens Advice has called on the government to act as households face a £172m bill after 11 suppliers collapsed. Gillian Guy said consumers should not be left to bail out the industry when companies go out of business. Read more: Energy supplier owed £12m to customers when it went out of business [...]
Tory leadership race: Gove falls out as Johnson and Hunt make final two June 20, 2019 Michael Gove has been knocked out of the Conservative leadership contest this afternoon, setting the stage for Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to battle it out in the race to become Britain’s next Prime Minister. The environment secretary failed to secure enough votes from fellow Tory MPs to reach the final ballot, with Johnson or [...]