Haleon: Chinese re-opening powers GSK spin-off to ‘consistent’ growth August 2, 2023 Strong sales of toothpaste and painkillers contributed to healthy results for Haleon, the newly-formed consumer healthcare firm spun out of GSK last year. In the first half of 2023, the Surrey-headquartered company’s revenue increased to £5.7bn, up 10.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. This was driven by Haleon’s ‘power brands’, such [...]
Pfizer’s revenue drops over 50 per cent as Covid-19 vaccine sales wither August 1, 2023 US drugmaker Pfizer today reported that revenue more than halved during the second quarter of the year as global demand for its Covid-19 vaccines plummeted. It reported disappointing revenues of $12.7bn (£9.9bn) in the three months April to June – down 54 per cent, or $15bn, from the second quarter last year. Pfizer blamed the [...]
Here is the first glimpse of London Underground’s 94 new (air conditioned) Piccadilly Line trains August 1, 2023 London is close to welcoming 94 new shiny new Piccadilly Line trains, after the first of a new Siemens-built batch went for testing in Germany. Transport for London said the state-of-the-art tube trains had gone for trials at a test and validation centre in Wegberg-Wildenrath, Germany. Consisting of nine carriages, the trains came off the [...]
Meta to launch AI-powered chatbots in a bid to cling on to users August 1, 2023 Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is reportedly gearing up to deploy a squadron of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots, each with their own distinctive personalities, in an effort to cling on to its users who have been dwindling lately. Meta has been crafting prototypes for these chatbots, aptly named “personas”, the Financial Times reported today, citing [...]
BT and Vodafone among 26 EU telecoms giants in new alliance to reduce emissions August 1, 2023 BT and Vodafone have joined a European coalition of 26 telecoms giants in a new alliance to combat their emissions. The Joint Alliance for CSR (corporate social responsibility, includes the major British players BT Group and Vodafone, in addition to giants from across the European continent, such as Deutsche Telekom, and Telefónica. They recently gathered [...]
The 90s called: Flip phones forecast to be worth near $50bn by 2027 as analysts watch for an Apple model August 1, 2023 Foldable smartphones are sparking a renaissance of the iconic flip phone from the 90s, with the market forecast to be worth nearly £50bn in the next four years. According to Expert Market Research, the foldable smartphone market reached almost $16.5bn (£12.8bn) in 2022 and is expected to soar to $60bn (£46.6bn) by 2028. Global foldable [...]
Former top Wandisco execs pressured to return £650,000 in bonuses July 31, 2023 Former executives of Wandisco are facing demands to return nearly £650,000 in bonuses received before the software company was embroiled in an accounting scandal earlier this year. Wandisco’s board has written to both David Richards, the firm’s co-founder and former boss, and Erik Miller, ex-finance chief, asking them to their last bonus payments, amounting to [...]
Capita picks Amazon exec to lead outsourcing giant July 31, 2023 London-listed outsourcing firm Capita is undergoing a change of leadership as CEO Jon Lewis steps down, passing the baton to Adolfo Hernandez. After over five years at the helm, Lewis is retiring as chief executive and board director, leaving the company in the hands of Hernandez, a seasoned tech expert with 30 years of experience, [...]
BT appoints first woman boss in 170-year history as Allison Kirkby to continue long-term fibre strategy July 31, 2023 BT has announced a successor for outgoing boss Philip Jansen, as Allison Kirkby, a former chief of Nordic telecoms giant Telia. The ailing British telecoms group appointed its first female boss in its 170 year history, who will take the reins from Jansen starting January 2024 “at the latest”. Jansen will continue to serve until [...]
Pearson profits soars over 50 per cent as AI strategy pays off July 31, 2023 Pearson has posted a strong first half of the year after it has started to embrace Artificial Intelligence in May. The London-based publisher said on Monday that it achieved a 56 per cent increase headline growth, with its adjusted operating profit up to £250m. The listed firm also said there had been 44 per cent [...]