Who will blink first in the Megabrew deal: SABMiller or AB InBev? October 11, 2015 With two days to go before the deadline for AB InBev to 'put up or shut up', negotiations between the world’s two largest brewers have taken an increasingly combative turn as SABMiller puts up roadblocks to a takeover by its larger rival. Shots were fired last week when Anheuser-Busch InBev made its offers public, and [...]
Optimal climate for success: House of Kaizen’s David Shiell talks Australian luddism and CRO October 11, 2015 Over the last few years, conversion rate optimisation (CRO) has been seen as a silver bullet for a company wanting to leverage existing web traffic and increase revenues, at a relatively low price. CRO is about maximising an audience’s engagement with an advert, but the process itself is exceedingly complex, as David Shiell, chief executive [...]
Apple allowing in-app ad-blockers establish worrying precedent October 11, 2015 Apple caused a storm a month ago when it released its iOS 9 software update, and not just because it caused many users’ mobiles to crash. The new operating system permits ad blocking technology, allowing users to screen adverts out of content, and a number of apps which block adverts in Safari have rocketed up [...]
Why merit is key to more diversity in the workplace: Inclusive leadership is not a Stalinist labour market intervention October 11, 2015 Let’s start with a point that nearly everyone can agree on: organisations in competitive markets need the very best talent. And we should recruit, promote and retain that talent on the basis of merit, and merit alone. We can generally agree that, if someone is selected or promoted on the basis of their identity, rather [...]
Marks & Spencer to close 12 stores in five Eastern European countries October 11, 2015 Marks & Spencer (M&S) is pulling out of five countries in eastern Europe, driven in part by heightened tensions between the West and Russia. The company is leaving Croatia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia, with store closures set to begin in January. The group plans to close 12 stores in total by May 2016. The [...]
EU referendum: Nigel Farage plays down talk of split on the “Out” campaign October 11, 2015 Leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage has played down concerns of a split on the "Out" side of the European Union referendum after two differing groups launched their campaigns last week. Vote Leave and Leave.EU both launched last week, but only one organisation will be chosen by the Electoral Commission, which regulates party and [...]
Tesco facing US court case as four firms sue over 2014 accounting scandal October 11, 2015 Tesco is being sued by a group of US funds over the 2014 accounting scandal which caused the supermarket's share price to collapse. In September last year, the company revealed that its profits had been overstated by £263m and the aftermath saw shares drop to a ten-year low. The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, [...]
Seven Eurosceptic Conservative MPs form a band to compete in Eurovision in protest against the EU October 11, 2015 While the European Union debate will be fought with renewed vigour tomorrow as the "In" campaign gets ready for battle with the "Out" campaign that launched last week, some politicians don't appear satisfied that will be enough to ensure their desired outcome of a Brexit. Having beaten former shadow chancellor, Andrea Jenkyns will now head up a [...]
Ken Clarke tells chancellor George Osborne to push ahead with tax credit cuts despite criticism October 11, 2015 Former chancellor of the exchequer Ken Clarke has said that current chancellor George Osborne should push ahead with reforms. Read more: Chancellor George Osborne faces backbench revolt over cuts to tax credits The Tory grandee, speaking on BBC's The Andrew Marr show, said: When you've got yourself a mandate to put things right, get on with [...]
These cities commute furthest by cycling and running and Tueday is London’s favourite day for getting to work by bike or on foot October 11, 2015 If it feels like Tuesdays are a bit busier than usual with more cyclists on the roads and runners on the city's pavements, it's not just your imagination. It's the most popular day for Londoners to commute by bike or run to work according to new data, and it also turns out to be the most [...]