Asda boss Andy Clarke’s 4 top leadership tips February 5, 2014 Speaking last night at the British Retail Consortium’s Future Retail Leader’s event, Asda chief executive Andy Clarke gave an account of his journey to the top – starting with the day he left school with just one O Level in English at 15. Realising he had spent too much time on the rugby pitch in [...]
Former Matalan boss Darren Blackhurst decides to B&Q-it January 21, 2014 DIY CHAIN B&Q said yesterday it has hired former Matalan chief executive Darren Blackhurst as commercial director as it makes further changes to its management team. The moves marks an unusual step back for Blackhurst, who was a leading contender to replace former Asda chief executive Andy Bond in 2010 and has spent two years [...]
Former Matalan boss Darren Blackhurst decides to B&Q-it January 21, 2014 After a six month silence, the former chief executive of Matalan Darren Blackhurst has popped back over the parapet, this time as commercial director of DIY chain B&Q. The moves marks an unusual step back for Blackhurst, who was a leading contender to replace former Asda chief executive Andy Bond back in 2010 (a role [...]
Matalan lowers profit forecast October 14, 2013 THE LATE summer heatwave has kept sales of Matalan’s new autumn range under wraps, prompting the discount fashion retailer to trim its full-year earnings forecasts. Matalan made £283.5m in revenues in the 14 weeks to the end of August, up from £269.2m in the previous year. But the group said it now expects to make [...]
Nicole Farhi sold to daughter of Matalan founder July 22, 2013 NICOLE FARHI, the British fashion brand, has been bought out of administration by Maxine Hargreaves-Adams, the daughter of the Matalan tycoon John Hargreaves. The retailer’s joint administrators Zolfo Cooper said Hargreaves-Adams has bought all six stores, the nine concessions and the wholesale and ecommerce parts of the business for an undisclosed sum. The brand, founded [...]
Matalan names Allan Leighton as its chairman October 16, 2012 FORMER Asda boss and Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton is to join the board of Matalan as chairman, the discount fashion and homeware retailer said yesterday as it posted robust second quarter sales. The highly-regarded Leighton will replace John Mills, who has been in the role for six years and will now become deputy chairman. [...]
Matalan posts solid results May 16, 2012 BUDGET fashion and homeware retailer Matalan defied the retail gloom to post a 1.9 per cent rise in full year sales to £1.1bn. The company said despite “solid” results, margins were hit by discounting, VAT increases, and its decision not to pass on higher input prices to customers. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation [...]
Grumeti can bounce back from Cheltenham defeat April 11, 2012 AINTREE’S prestigious three-day Grand National meeting gets underway this afternoon and it may be worth finding a TV just after 2pm to watch the remarkable Big Buck’s beat Sir Ken’s (one of the great Champion Hurdlers from the 1950s) unbeaten sequence of 16. Now, Paul Nicholls’ four-time World Hurdle winner is a best-priced 1/4 with [...]
Boxer Georg can land a punch in the Fox Hunters’ April 11, 2012 The first taste racegoers get of the Grand National fences at this year’s meeting comes in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase at 3.40pm. Paul Nicholls last won this race 10 years ago with Torduff Express and he saddles the likely favourite Gwanako who was pitting his wits against Big Buck’s at this meeting last [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 6, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES FEARS GROW FOR $45BN UTILITY AS BUYOUT GROUPS’ HEDGES NEAR EXPIRY The world’s biggest private equity deal is facing rising financial pressure during the next two years with the expiry of contracts that underpinned the takeover of utility TXU. Investors in the $45bn buyout of the company, now known as Energy Future Holdings, [...]