Cupid’s chief to step down after a loveless year November 25, 2013 ONLINE dating company Cupid will have a new chief executive from next week, replacing Bill Dobbie as it struggles to turn around its business after a share price collapse of 72 per cent so far this year. Phil Gripton, currently Cupid’s managing director of dating services, will take over from Dobbie as chief executive on [...]
Full steam ahead as government publishes HS2 hybrid Bill November 25, 2013 The Bill for phase one of HS2, which gives the government the power to start building the railway, is being published today. The hybrid Bill, which is effectively the planning application for the scheme, will also give individuals the chance to petition parliament both for and against the proposals. Transport secretary Patrick Mcloughlin said: The Bill [...]
EY to snap up rival KPMG’s Danish arm… November 20, 2013 THE DANISH arm of KPMG announced yesterday that it is to be merged into EY’s global operations, a major victory for the firm formerly known as Ernst & Young over its big four rival. Jesper Koefoed, head of KPMG’s branch in Denmark said that the organisation’s strong local market position would be beneficial in combination [...]
City Moves for 21 November 2013 | Who’s switching jobs November 20, 2013 Barclays The bank has announced the appointment of James Brincat to its Beyond Benefits business. He has over 12 years’ experience working in financial services. Brincat was most recently at Thomsons Online Benefits, where he was an account director and head of partnerships. ING The financial services group has hired Leo Greve as head of [...]
Investors buy player shares November 20, 2013 CASH-STRAPPED clubs selling off players’ transfer rights as an alternative to taking bank loans has become a growing trend in Europe, according to a report by KPMG Europe’s Spanish division. The practice of third-party ownership is being undertaken by clubs including Champions League competitors Porto and Atletico Madrid, according to the report, which also states [...]
Aberdeen set to win £500m bid battle for Swip November 18, 2013 ABERDEEN Asset Management is poised to sign a £500m deal to buy Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (Swip) after beating a rival bidder to land the company. The all share deal – which would give Lloyds just under a 10 per cent stake in Aberdeen – is set to be unveiled this morning after the other [...]
City Moves for 14 November 2013 | Who’s switching jobs November 13, 2013 Baker & McKenzie The law firm has announced the hire of Mark Bevington as principal tax adviser in its London corporate tax practice. Bevington specialises in UK domestic taxation. He was most recently at Ernst & Young, where he was a partner. Ernst & Young The professional services firm has appointed David Kilshaw as a partner in its private [...]
City Moves for 13 November 2013 | Who’s switching jobs November 12, 2013 Bovill The financial services consultancy has hired Ashley Kovas as head of funds. He was most recently at RBS, where he was head of compliance policy and chaired its group policy forum. Prior to that, Kovas was a director of strategy at the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Altus Partners The executive search company has announced the [...]
KPMG sets up fund to invest in tech firms November 11, 2013 ACCOUNTING giant KPMG is making its first move into investment management by setting up a fund focused on providing early-stage capital to data and analytics firms. KPMG said the London-based fund, named KPMG Capital and not open to outside investors, will acquire and set up partnerships with data companies worldwide. Several offices in the global [...]
Strongest pick up in wages since before crisis seen by recruiters November 7, 2013 RECRUITERS recorded the strongest increase in permanent salaries since before the financial crisis last month, an early indication that the economy’s recent upturn may finally be translating through to wages. Research out today says the number of recruitment and employment consultancies reporting an increase in permanent salaries has risen to 18.1 per cent. The latest [...]