Telecom Italia appoints Luigi Gubitosi as new chief executive after ‘Whatsapp ousting’ November 19, 2018 Telecom Italia has named a former Merrill Lynch banker as its new chief executive, less than a week after it reportedly ousted its former boss via a Whatsapp message. The board of Italy’s largest telecoms firm selected Luigi Gubitosi, a veteran manager who has held senior roles at companies such as Fiat and Wind Telecom, during [...]
Housebuilder Weston sees profits soar as it plans £28m expansion November 19, 2018 Housebuilder and office provider Weston has reported a huge increase in revenue and pre-tax profits as the developer cashes in on rising demand for new homes. The volume housebuilder, which operates in London and the south east, said its pre-tax profits increased over 50 per cent year on year to £35m. The group’s revenue was up [...]
Renault shares plummet as chairman Carlos Ghosn arrested after financial misconduct investigation November 19, 2018 Shares in Renault plunged 10 per cent this morning as the car manufacturer's chairman and chief executive was arrested on suspicion of under-reporting his salary. Carlos Ghosn, who is also chairman of car manufacturer Nissan, is being investigated by Japanese authorities and has been arrested by prosecutors, according to Reuters. In a statement Nissan said [...]
Crunch time: Edible insects hit supermarket shelves as UK goes nuts for bugs November 19, 2018 Roasted crickets hit supermarket shelves yesterday as Sainsbury’s became the first UK retailer to stock edible insects. The supermarket chain has launched a range of barbecue-flavoured crunchy roasted crickets, which are described as “crunchy in texture with a rich smoky flavour”. The crickets cost £1.50 per packet and are available in 250 Sainsbury’s stores across the [...]
Energy suppliers set to blow 2020 smart meter rollout deadline, predicts consumer group November 19, 2018 Major energy suppliers would need to triple the number of smart meters they are currently installing to meet the 2020 deadline, Which? has warned. The consumer group said large suppliers would need to increase their rate of installation to 30 smart meters per minute every day for the next two years if they are to [...]
London pub and restaurant sales buck the trend as casual dining chains struggle to stand out November 19, 2018 Pub and restaurant groups in the capital delivered “relatively healthy” like-for-like sales in October, but growth remained flat across the rest of the country. Overall like-for-like sales grew 2.5 per cent in London, compared with a 0.5 per cent fall outside the capital. Sales in managed pubs and bars were ahead of restaurants, increasing 3.6 [...]
Tax managers enjoy largest salary rise as tougher compliance regulation pays off November 19, 2018 Tax wonks have seen their salaries soar over the last year as businesses grapple with tougher compliance rules in the City. Operational tax managers topped the list of salary increases in 2018, enjoying a 6.7 per cent rise, according to figures from recruitment company Hays. The increase reflects the greater focus on compliance as firms [...]
J. Crew chief executive steps down despite successful relaunch November 18, 2018 The chief executive of clothing brand J. Crew is stepping down after just 17 months in the role, the company said yesterday. James Brett, who joined the retailer in July last year, will step down with immediate effect after reaching a mutual agreement with the board of directors. Brett had been at the forefront of [...]
Shareholder slams Johnston Press rescue plan as pensions put at risk November 18, 2018 A deal to buy publishing company Johnston Press out of administration puts jobs and pensions at risk, according to the publisher’s largest shareholder. Custos Group chief executive Christen Ager-Hanssen criticised a pre-packaged sale that sees ownership transferred to JPI Media, a newly-formed company owned by the bondholders of Johnston Press, including American hedge fund Goldentree [...]
Two-year university degree plans to cut cost of tuition fees November 18, 2018 University students will save money on their degrees and enter the workplace sooner thanks to plans to roll out two-year courses, the Minister for Universities said today. The Department for Education said shorter university courses, also known as accelerated degrees, will be a boost both for students in higher education and for businesses looking to [...]