City Moves for 16 January – who’s switching jobs at Orchard Street, Crowell & Moring and Stephens Rickard? January 16, 2019 Who’s switching jobs today? Orchard Street Orchard Street Investment Management, the specialist commercial property investment manager, announces the expansion of its leadership team with the promotion of Tom Chadwick to partner. Tom joined Orchard Street in 2014 as investment transactions manager following a successful six-year track record at Aviva Investors, where he started his career [...]
Mark Kleinman’s big predictions for the Square Mile in 2019 January 11, 2019 Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP exit, Unilever’s HQ U-turn, Melrose’s swoop for GKN: 2018 was a year full of surprises in the City. And while forecasting might be a fool’s errand, here are 10 predictions for the year ahead. •Theresa May will decisively lose next week’s “meaningful vote” on Brexit: that’s not a punt that will [...]
Ashtead chief executive to step down next May, replaced by chief executive of US arm November 29, 2018 Industrial equipment rental company Ashtead’s shares were up 5.7 per cent this morning as it announced chief executive Geoff Drabble is to step down in May after nearly 12 years in charge. Chief operating officer Brendan Horgan, who is also chief executive of the group’s North American business Sunbelt Rentals, will succeed Drabble on 1 May. [...]
City Moves for 28 November – who’s switching jobs at Irwin Mitchell, Capita and Wilko? November 28, 2018 Who’s switching jobs today? Irwin Mitchell National law firm Irwin Mitchell has recruited a new senior lawyer for its national real estate department. Michelle Beaumont has joined the firm’s Leeds office as partner. She joins from the Leeds office of Pinsent Masons, having joined that firm in 2006. Michelle has experience of working on a [...]
The Co-op could offload its insurance arm in a £300m deal November 5, 2018 The Co-op Group is reportedly in talks to sell its insurance business to underwriter Markerstudy Group in what would be a £300m deal. According to Sky News the talks between the two companies are at an advanced stage, though no decision has been taken be either side on whether to proceed with the deal. Sky [...]
Aviva chief executive Mark Wilson steps down after almost six years in charge October 9, 2018 Aviva chief executive Mark Wilson stepped down today, with the insurer looking for new leadership for what it called its next stage of development. Wilson, who was brought in to enact a business turnaround in 2013, claimed he succeeded in this goal, with its latest financial results showing it should deliver earnings per share growth [...]
Unilever to stay on FTSE 100: How investors reacted October 5, 2018 Unilever’s awkward climbdown over its attempt to move its main listing to the Netherlands is unlikely to be the last, according to one financial expert, as investors reacted to the company’s decision to retain its London headquarters today. Unilever this morning pulled plans to make the Netherlands its sole headquarters and quit its UK offices, after [...]
Royal London joins group of investors preparing to vote against Unilever Netherlands move October 3, 2018 Royal London Asset Management is the latest Unilever shareholder to speak out against the company's plan to scrap its London listing and headquarters. Unilever has proposed to simplify its current dual-headed structure into a single holding Dutch company, with a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange, however a growing list of investors have announced [...]
Another top Unilever shareholder says it will vote against Dutch move October 1, 2018 Another top shareholder of consumer giant Unilever has said it will vote down the company's plans to relocate its headquarters to the Netherlands. Asset management firm Schroders joined a growing list of investors who have vowed to reject Unilever's plan. In September, Aviva said the same thing, while top 10 shareholder Legal & General Investment [...]
Unilever hits back over City fury at Dutch move September 25, 2018 Unilever has stepped up its charm offensive on City investors as it tries to combat a brewing shareholder revolt over plans to ditch its London headquarters. The consumer goods giant has organised meetings with the most vocal opponents of the plans in an attempt to assuage their fears, although its attempts to change minds have [...]