B&Q owner Kingfisher reports falls in revenue and profit November 25, 2014 Kingfisher’s new French chief executive, Veronique Laury, faces a tough task to arrest the tumbling sales in her home country which are taking their toll on the FTSE 100 company. In its third quarter results the B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher recorded a 3.6 per cent drop in sales to £2.8bn, while retail profit [...]
M&S poaches John Lewis finance director Helen Weir November 17, 2014 Marks & Spencer has appointed John Lewis finance director Helen Weir as its own chief financial officer. In a statement posted this afternoon, the retailer said Weir has yet to confirm a start date. M&S' previous finance director, Alan Stewart, left suddenly in September to take up his new role at Tesco several months earlier [...]
Who will fix it for Homebase if nation stops doing DIY? – Brand Index November 4, 2014 Homebase, the home improvement giant, has announced that it is to close about a quarter of its 323 stores, raising questions as to whether this a necessary restructuring or because the nation – and particularly the younger generation – has fallen out of love with DIY. With house prices increasing over the past few years, [...]
Euan Sutherland relaxes into SuperGroup’s clothing after taking on chief exec role October 22, 2014 Euan Sutherland looked relaxed and rested yesterday as he announced his new role as chief executive of high street fashion retailer SuperGroup. As if to prove his unswerving loyalty to the cult brand, the soft-spoken 6ft 6in Scotsman is dressed head-to-toe in Superdry clothing, including a navy blue pea coat, which he enthuses is “absolutely [...]
Eurozone fears pull down FTSE to one-year low – London Report October 9, 2014 THE FTSE 100 yesterday hit its lowest level for a year after early gains fell away in a broad-based sell-off as investors became anxious about signs of serious weakening in the Eurozone economy. The blue-chip index, which hit 6,544 points in morning trading, due mainly to a rise in mining shares, ended the day down [...]
FTSE 100 records lowest close for a year as geopolitical and Eurozone worries take their toll October 9, 2014 The FTSE 100 slid to its lowest close for a year today, with anxious investors scurrying to sell off stock due to geopolitical and Eurozone worries. The index of blue-chip shares was down eight per cent on the bell, a 50.39 point drop to 6,431, the lowest level since 10 October last year. [...]
Scottish independence: BT, TalkTalk, EE, Telefonica, Vodafone and Three warn of increased costs if Scots vote Yes September 14, 2014 Six of Britain's leading telecoms companies are the latest to warn of potential price rises if Scotland votes Yes to independence. The chiefs of BT, TalkTalk, EE, Telefonica UK, Vodafone UK and Three UK have issued a joint letter warning that the uncertainty around regulation and spectrum allocation, which mobile networks use to operate, could [...]
The new queen of Kingfisher September 10, 2014 B&Q-owner Kingfisher is to replace Sir Ian Cheshire, its long-standing chief executive, with Véronique Laury, the head of its French DIY business. The DIY and horse jumping enthusiast will become the fifth woman chief executive in the FTSE 100
B&Q owner Kingfisher’s share price rises as it names Veronique Laury as Sir Ian Cheshire’s replacement September 10, 2014 Shares in B&Q owner Kingfisher opened 2.8 per cent higher this morning after it revealed its new chief executive as Sir Ian Cheshire prepares to step down. He will be replaced by the chief executive of Castorama France, Veronique Laury, before the end of the financial year. Cheshire, who has been with the company for [...]
Kingfisher share price falls as World Cup distracts DIY shoppers July 24, 2014 Shares in B&Q owner Kingfisher have fallen by more than 7.3 per cent in early trading, after the company reported falling like-for-like sales and the acquisition of French DIY brand Mr Bricolage. Chief executive Sir Ian Cheshire said that second quarter trading "was always expected to be more difficult", and that markets "have been slower [...]