Lewis Hamilton’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix win celebrated by Rentokil’s landscaping arm Ambius in flower portrait November 23, 2014 There might be some sore heads in the City this morning as F1 fans all over Britain celebrated along with Lewis Hamilton yesterday, having watched him clinch his second drivers’ world championship in Abu Dhabi. But some celebrated his triumph in a slightly different and we dare say, odd way. London-listed pest control giant [...]
Thomas Cook’s Harriet Green would like to be fired by herself hears Inspiring Women conference November 20, 2014 Thomas Cook chief executive Harriet Green really wishes she could be a Buddhist. The travel boss, who gets up at 3.30am every morning to start work and laments that Thomas Cook doesn’t have an Asian business so she could hit the phones in the very early hours, believes deeply in Buddhist humanism but just can’t [...]
BBC’s Nick Robinson brings political gags to WPA lunch to the Grosvenor Hotel on Park Lane November 20, 2014 It was a tight squeeze in the Grosvenor Hotel on Park Lane yesterday as the Westminster Property Association (WPA) held its annual lunch, with more than 1,000 attendees from the likes of Land Securities, Grosvenor Estate and the Crown Estate. “We’re really selective about our membership, as you can see from the room today,” laughed [...]
Finsbury’s 20th birthday bash pulls the stars at Tate Britain November 19, 2014 The cavernous hall of Tate Britain was filled with the chatter of countless City bigwigs last night, as friends and clients of Finsbury headed to Pimlico for the firm’s 20th anniversary party. The likes of easyJet boss Carolyn McCall, RSA’s Stephen Hester, shadow business minister Chuka Umunna, Legal & General boss Nigel Wilson and WPP [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell leads cheers for Harvey Soning’s big night at Claridge’s November 19, 2014 Veteran property legend Harvey Soning, chairman of James Andrew International, stood at the entrance of Claridge’s Ballroom last night, shaking the hands of some of the biggest names in the property world who flocked to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his firm (and his belated 70th birthday). Sir Martin Sorrell (absent from WPP-owned Finsbury’s bash) [...]
The Raid Des Alpes challenge raises £110k in aid of The Sick Children’s Trust November 19, 2014 Big congratulations to the team of 11 cyclists, who tackled a 735-km ride through the Alps back in September in aid of The Sick Children’s Trust. The ride was inspired by five-year-old Mimi Clarke (pictured, with her mum at the start line of the challenge), who is undergoing treatment for a tumour. “It was harder [...]
CEO Carolyn McCall scoffs at easyJet being labelled as lazy November 18, 2014 A couple of weeks ago, somebody called easyJet lazy. This wasn’t an angry passenger or a disgruntled shareholder, but the chief executive of Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air, Jozsef Varadi. “Lazy low-cost airlines” will be undercut by ultra-low-cost brands like Wizz and Ryanair in Europe, he told punters at the World Travel Market conference at [...]
US bank State Street brings TED talks to the East End’s Troxy November 18, 2014 As the US’ second oldest financial institution, you might expect 222-year-old State Street to be a bit fusty around the edges. But the banking stalwart’s chiefs look determined to keep the bank fresh – so much so they organised a TED talk day in the trendy East End Troxy theatre yesterday. TED talks are usually [...]
Saxo Bank launches pioneering cycle scheme with 2014 Vuelta Champion Alberto Contador November 18, 2014 Employees, clients and friends of Saxo Bank braved the damp yesterday to join 2014 Vuelta Champion cyclist Alberto Contador, Tinkoff-Saxo team manager Bjarne Riis and co-founder and co-chief of the bank, Lars Seier Christensen at Herne Hill Velodrome, where they were invited to ride with Contador in celebration of the 2014 pro-cycling season. Afterwards, the [...]
HardlyEverWornIt.com party at Cafe Royal Hotel to feature live penguins and a McLaren F1 simulator November 17, 2014 As Christmas party season approaches, you’ll all be familiar with the following conundrum: How the bejeezus will they fit the McLaren F1 simulator into the Cafe Royal Hotel?! No? Well, poor old HardlyEverWornIt.com, the online fashion site, has been grappling with this for a while. The team at the fashion firm was on tenterhooks until [...]
