Tony Pidgley on Berkeley Group’s demotion from FTSE 100, giving up his six-figure salary and solving London’s housing crisis March 15, 2017 Berkeley Homes bowed out of the FTSE 100 following the Brexit vote last year but founder and chairman Tony Pidgley CBE isn’t perturbed. “I don’t run Berkeley for whether it's in or out of the FTSE 100. I run Berkeley because Berkeley does what it does well,” Pidgley tells City A.M. “I couldn’t control Brexit [...]
Leap 100 companies have shown how much can be achieved in just two years March 14, 2017 We're living in an unprecedented time of change. Technology is accelerating at breakneck pace, changing the way we work, creating new industries and, with them, new opportunities for ambitious British businesses. The UK is becoming an increasingly fertile nesting ground for new technology. According to London & Partners, the UK tech sector drew more investment [...]
FinnCap chief executive Sam Smith on IPOs, MBOs and the value of skin in the game March 14, 2017 FinnCap is a unique business grown from unusual circumstances. The leading City broker was established in 2007, when Sam Smith, its chief executive, orchestrated the management buy-out (MBO) of a small broking subsidiary of a private client stockbroking firm. Most significantly, FinnCap is now almost entirely owned by its employees – something that was a [...]
Another year of profit losses for French Connection March 14, 2017 High street fashion shop, French Connection, has reported yet another year of losses. The figures French Connection said revenues for 2016 were £153.2m, down six per cent, compared to last year’s £164.2m. The company declared an underlying operating loss of £3.7m this year, compared to £4.7m last year. It has less cash this year and [...]
Cc: Why copying in executives might result in the wrong sort of attention March 14, 2017 The abuse of email raises the blood pressure in offices every day. Workers are bombarded by often quite junior managers in other departments with demanding emails. They take many forms but the contents generally mean: “you must agree to do lots of work for me”. To make their request more convincing, they cc- in lots [...]
City Moves – who’s switching jobs at Kingston Smith, BTL Group, Fulcrum Asset Management and Aon Hewitt March 14, 2017 Today's City Moves cover accountants, blockchain, asset management and pensions. Take a look at these movers and shakers: Kingston Smith Kingston Smith, the top 20 firm of chartered accountants and business advisers, has appointed Vida McShane as senior solicitor. Vida’s appointment will further strengthen the current legal service offering within the multi-disciplinary accountancy firm. She [...]
Meet the serial entrepreneur building P2P energy company Squeaky March 13, 2017 That was the worst choice of name ever,” admits serial energy entrepreneur Chris Bowden, as I add an extra syllable to “Utilyx”, his first company, which he sold to Mitie in 2012 for £16.2m. Founded in 2000, it became the largest energy broker for commercial and industrial consumers and independent power producers. “When we started, [...]
Ask Debrett’s: How can I make performance reviews less painful for all concerned? March 13, 2017 Q: I lead a team of account managers and we are heading towards the annual performance review. I really struggle with this process – it seems to be just a paperwork exercise. The reports take an age to complete but make little difference so far as I can tell. How can I make the process [...]
Three in four Russell Group grads in senior FTSE 100 positions are women March 13, 2017 Female UK business leaders are three times more likely to need a qualification from an elite university to get top jobs than their male counterparts, according to new research by executive search agency Green Park. Among top 20 employees at FTSE 100 companies, 76 per cent of Russell Group graduates and 70 per cent of [...]
City Moves for 13 March 2017 – who’s switching jobs at DMH Stallard, Smith & Williamson, JP Morgan Asset Management and Formula 1 March 13, 2017 Today's City Moves cover legal eagles, asset management and sports. Take a look at these movers and shakers: DMH Stallard DMH Stallard has appointed Carolyn Lee as a solicitor in its London real estate and construction team. Carolyn most recently worked in the construction group at Linklaters, where she acted for major property developers. Her [...]