THERE IS CHANGE IN THE AIR: IT’S TIME FOR GROWTH January 30, 2011 GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AVIVA Q. What has the mood been like at Davos this year? A. There was an interesting change in the air compared with the last couple of years. While no-one is getting over-confident about our future economic prospects, there was some sense that it is time to think about growth again. However, [...]
Mecom confirms chairman’s resignation January 28, 2011 European publisher Mecom has confirmed that its executive chairman Alasdair Locke has resigned and is to be replaced by director Stephen Davidson. The announcement follows City A.M.’s exclusive report revealing Mecom’s decision to oust Locke this morning. “The Board has agreed that Stephen Davidson, currently the senior independent director, will, pending the appointment of a [...]
Vodafone drags on the FTSE despite strong insurer gains January 27, 2011 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 share index closed slightly lower yesterday, after a dip in index heavyweight Vodafone, dented by weak results from AT&T, offset a surge in insurers following positive broker comment. The FTSE 100 closed down 4.13 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5,965.08, having added 0.9 per cent the previous session. Vodafone, the company [...]
MEDIA VETERAN IN PUSH TO REPLACE LOCKE AS MECOM CHAIR January 27, 2011 FORMER Telewest chief executive Stephen Davidson has put himself up as a possible executive chairman of Mecom, the European regional newspaper group. If successful, Davidson would replace Alasdair Locke, the current chairman who is seen by some shareholders to have been too close to former chief executive David Montgomery. Montgomery recently departed after pressure from [...]
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR BETTER GENDER DIVERSITY IS CLEAR January 27, 2011 CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, AVIVA THIS year’s World Economic Forum has thrown down a gauntlet to its delegates. The organisers have asked that women make up at least 20 per cent of any corporate team attending debates in Davos. Quotas have always been controversial. As a member of the steering group of Lord Davies’ enquiry into [...]
FTSE left lower as investor confidence knocked January 27, 2011 The FTSE lost traction this afternoon after a credit rating cut on Japan knocked investor confidence from the market open, and poor results from fashion chain H&M saw retailers sold. The FTSE 100 closed down 0.07 per cent or 4.13 per cent at 5,965.08 with miners giving up earlier gains to allow steady asset management [...]
BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS NEED LONG TERM PLANS January 26, 2011 GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AVIVA AS INSURERS, we’re here to help secure our customers’ financial futures and we understand the responsibility that comes with that. Ours is a long term business. We have to be there for our customers throughout their lifetimes, and beyond. So inevitably the sustainability of our business is a key priority for [...]
DISCUSSING THE ROAD TO FUTURE PROSPERITY NOW January 25, 2011 GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AVIVA OUR business is about securing the long-term financial futures of our customers: providing prosperity and peace of mind. And our relationships with customers are enduring – potentially lasting 50 or 60 years through the savings and retirement phases of their lives. As a leading insurer, with 53m customers, we’re at Davos [...]
DAVOS: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE NEW IDEAS January 24, 2011 GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AVIVA ATTENDING the annual World Economic Forum at Davos is a privilege. Why am I going, and what do I hope to get out of it? The great thing about Davos – but also a frustration – is that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to talk to all the [...]
THE TIPSTER January 23, 2011 AN INTERIM management statement is due from Sage, the software service provider, on Wednesday. Renewed confidence in the economy should bode well for the company, which has seen shares creep back to the levels it achieved before the credit crunch. Admittedly, the stock remains a long way below the all time highs of the dot-com [...]