Lime looks to lessen London’s transport squeeze as e-scooter trial begins June 4, 2021 Tentatively, I step on to the slip-proof board with one nervous foot, kick away the stand with the other, and gently get going. Not having immediately crashed, I rather grandly decide I’m at the forefront of the e-scooter revolution as I begin to accelerate off into King’s Cross’ Granary Square. This, at a ‘safe ride [...]
Scotch Malt Whisky Society owners set to list on AIM on Friday June 3, 2021 The Artisanal Spirits Company will list on London’s alternative market tomorrow, with CEO David Ridley telling City A.M. he is “excited” to finally see years of work come to fruition. The owners of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) are expecting a market capitalisation of around £78m. The society offers curated single malt whiskies for [...]
Door to door, but digital: Avon CEO on how a historic firm gets with the times June 3, 2021 Think of Avon and the image that emerges is probably a pretty wholesome one – an Avon lady, or perhaps an Avon man, presenting their make-up wares in a pleasantly spruced-up living room. In your mind, it’s probably set in black and white too. But times are changing. The cosmetics firm made its mark across [...]
Quaglino’s: Golden-age glam the perfect antidote to lockdown June 1, 2021 It is fair to say that good old fashioned glamour has not been in vogue during months of endless lockdowns. Cocktail dresses abandoned for athleisure. Black tie (which you can read all about in this excellent piece by our resident sartorial expert) for three days without a shower. But London is back, and open-ish, and [...]
Entrepreneurial charity warns aid cuts will only increase reliance on handouts May 29, 2021 Sam Bickersteth, the CEO of Opportunity International UK which works to develop home-grown businesses in the developing world, has told City A.M. that UK aid cuts will only increase dependence on handouts. Bickersteth said that by reducing the number of programmes charities like his are able to run, more people will end up relying on [...]
Exclusive: Row brewing at Playtech over £148m sale of trade-tech platform Finalto May 29, 2021 A shareholder row is brewing at Playtech over the proposed sale of its trade tech platform Finalto, with at least one major investor understood to be disappointed by the £148m selling price. The tech firm has agreed to offload Finalto to an Israeli consortium as part of efforts to focus in on its core gaming [...]
Government poaches trade expert Allie Renison to bolster international efforts May 21, 2021 Allie Renison, one of the UK’s most respected trade policy experts, is set to join Government as a senior official at the Department for International Trade. City A.M. understands she will take up the role in the coming weeks. Renison has served as Head of Trade Policy at the Institute of Directors for several years [...]
Saturday Sitdown: Uber UK boss Jamie Heywood on the recovery, workers’ rights and electric vehicles May 1, 2021 Jamie Heywood, Uber’s top man in the UK, Northern and Eastern Europe, has a spring in his step – at least, as much as you can see that on Zoom. Since the reopening of London’s bars and restaurants, with tables next to heaters prized like rare artefacts, Uber has seen rides spike upwards as Londoners [...]
The worst thing about the Super League? It makes perfect sense April 19, 2021 For any football fan supporting anybody other than Arsenal or Manchester United during the 1990s, the last few years have offered some enjoyable schadenfreude. United lost their way after legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. Arsenal turned into a soap opera, a club which appeared at times to be run by three lads [...]
Exclusive: FCA continues hiring spree with former Blackstone and Treasury man March 31, 2021 The City regulator has added another big name to its senior team with the hire of former Blackstone and HM Treasury man Ramesh Chhabra. Chhabra will serve as FCA boss Nikhil Rathi’s Senior Adviser. It is the latest in a series of senior appointments made by Rathi as he seeks to put the body on [...]
