Aviva chief exec: Turnaround is complete, so let’s get on with post-Brexit business January 19, 2017 Aviva today announced a large organisational shake-up that will enable the insurance giant to capitalise on the significant opportunities present by the Brexit vote. The group's UK operations, previously separated into life, general and health insurance divisions will be brought together under the leadership of current Aviva life chief exec Andy Briggs. Read more: Aviva shares jump 4.5 [...]
Welsh water bidding war heats up after activist locals attempt to block Severn Trent takeover January 16, 2017 An investment company is still hopeful of buying a Welsh water company, with angry locals seeking to block the rival bid in an unprecedented case of shareholder activism. FTSE 100-listed utility firm Severn Trent agreed an £84m, £18.25-per-share, takeover for Dee Valley Water in November. However, in a never-before-seen move, the deal was blocked last week [...]
This noise-cancelling device means you can finally have office phone conversations in private January 11, 2017 Tired of leaping up from your desk every time you need to have a private phone conversation at the office? One company has unveiled the solution: a mask which absorbs your speech. The Hushme looks like a pair of headphones, but is designed to go around your mouth, absorbing noise so you can have conversations without your [...]
“Alexa, what’s an annuity?” Insurance company Aviva is using Amazon Echo January 4, 2017 "Alexa, what's an annuity?" Now your Amazon Echo can tell you the answer to burning questions about insurance and guide you through the unfamiliar jargon of the industry. The Insurance giant Aviva has developed a so-called skill (like an app for smartphones) for the voice activated speaker which proved a big hit for Amazon over Christmas. Read more: [...]
City Moves for 15 December 2016 | Who’s switching jobs December 15, 2016 The Instant Group John Duckworth has been appointed managing director of The Instant Group, responsible for all sales and business operations in the UK and EMEA region. An experienced real estate executive, John joins from JLL where he was a member of the UK board and, among other responsibilities, ran its corporate services business. In his 18 years [...]
A median of £0? Well, that’s what the ONS says one sector’s workers are putting into their pension pots December 9, 2016 Work in the tourism sector? Are you putting money away for retirement? If the answer is no, then you aren't alone. The latest numbers from those clever boffins over at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest the median pension savings reported in the tourism sector is a mighty… well, diddly-squat. That's right, the ONS said the median reported [...]
These are 2016’s top 100 influential leaders in fintech (part 1 of 4) December 7, 2016 It is no secret that the financial services industry continues to be transformed by the digital revolution. According to PWC, roughly 20% of financial services business is at risk of disruption to fintech companies by 2020. It follows that investment into the sector continues to rise. In 2015, funding of fintech businesses more than doubled [...]
City Moves for 7 December 2016 | Who’s switching jobs December 7, 2016 Lee Baron Lee Baron, a specialist in property management, has promoted Mark Fitzgerald to head of property management. Having joined the firm in 2015 as a director in the property management department, Mark takes the reins from Ian Jones, who after 10 years in the role, will now be concentrating on his position as chief [...]
Institutional West End property sales sizzle to record high as investors capitalise on weaker pound and foreign interest December 5, 2016 Institutional sales of commercial property in the West End have topped £2.7bn in the year-to-date, the highest volume ever recorded, according to estate agent Savills. Standard Life, Aberdeen Asset Management, DTZ Investors, TH Real Estate, Blackrock and Aviva have each sold more than £100m of assets since January, with vendor institutions making up 55 per [...]
It’s good but it ain’t enough: Auto-enrolment numbers are a “tale of two halves” December 1, 2016 Auto-enrolment of workplace pensions is failing key sections of the workforce and needs to be "re-booted", according to industry experts. The department for work and pensions today released its annual report on the country's participation in the initiative, which was an attempt to "address the decline in private pension saving and to help normalise saving". [...]