Ladies who don’t lunch: Maike Currie talks to Christine Johnson about bonds, bubbles and being a rebel July 14, 2016 "I am definitely a bond person,” says Christine Johnson, head of fixed income at Old Mutual Global Investors. We’re having lunch at Spring restaurant in Somerset House and I am beginning to understand what Christine means when she says that as a fund manager you need to “live your job”. She likens her personality to [...]
The legal implications of airing your views at work July 14, 2016 Rarely has a public issue proved as divisive as Brexit. The strength of opinion of individuals supporting either Remain or Leave has been overwhelming, and tensions across the country are still running high. Workplace discussion on political matters will continue to rage over the coming months, but could heated debates lead to discrimination claims? What [...]
First May, now this lot: HR professional body wants executive pay to be linked to culture July 13, 2016 Shortly after incoming Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her views on curbing reward at the top, the body for HR professionals is today calling for executive pay to be linked to culture. In a new report on company culture, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has called for remuneration committees to be better empowered and [...]
Lobby group TheCityUK has just appointed a new chief exec July 13, 2016 Among all the leadership changes announced in recent weeks, here's one that really matters: City lobbying organisation TheCityUK has announced the name of its new chief executive. Miles Celic, currently director of communications at the Prudential, will become the organisation's new chief exec later this year, when current boss Chris Cummings steps down. “I am [...]
Why 2016 could be a record year for UK startups embracing the “Brexit spirit” July 13, 2016 More than 600 startups launched per day in London in the first six months of 2016, new figures show. And Startup Britain, which compiled the figures, believes the “Brexit spirit” will lead to this year being a record-breaker for new companies in the UK. Across the country as a whole, 342,927 companies were started between January [...]
City A.M. Unregulated podcast: Body language, networking, and how to be the most interesting person in the room July 13, 2016 They say a vast percentage of communication is about body language – but what does that mean when you're doing business? Hosts Emma Haslett and Zak Mir are joined by social entrepreneur Oli Barrett and author Elizabeth Kuhnke, who give their tips on body language and networking – and why you should never ask a person [...]
These are the UK’s 20 best towns and cities to work in (London doesn’t get a look-in) July 13, 2016 When Samuel Johnson made that quip about those being tired of London being tired of life, he clearly wasn't taking into account house prices – or work/life balance. Because it turns out that Cambridge is the UK's best city to work in, according to employees there. That's followed by Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Leeds and Peterborough. London, on [...]
Hands off: Why Theresa May shouldn’t try to be a micromanager July 13, 2016 As Theresa May begins her premiership today, her leadership will be tested like never before. With the nature of the UK’s relationship with the EU unknown, she will have her work cut out. Conservative colleagues have described her tendency to micromanage the Home Office, something which would be impossible to do in her new role. [...]
The Leap 100: Does Brexit really mean business? July 12, 2016 Britain’s decision to leave the EU means taking a hit for The Leap 100. Sixty per cent say Brexit will impact their ability to grow in the short term. Long-term, that diminishes to 52 per cent, but the majority are still feeling the sense of uncertainty acutely. “We're waiting on further detail of what the [...]
YPlan’s co-founder Rytis Vitkauskas on pitching to Ashton Kutcher and how to secure other big-name investors July 12, 2016 Rytis Vitkauskas doesn’t strike you as the sort of person to court celebrities. The Lithuanian born co-founder of YPlan, the events discovery app, comes across as smart, focused and unostentatious. Nevertheless, YPlan has been remarkably successful at getting celebrity backers like Stephen Fry, Pharell Williams and Ashton Kutcher, and Vitkauskas spoke about this at a recent [...]