HMV hit by World Cup fever September 9, 2010 ENTERTAINMENT company HMV has said that this summer’s World Cup triggered a 14.9 per cent fall in sales in the UK and Ireland. The firm said potential customers had spurned DVDs, CDs and books to watch the football, hitting the figures which covered the 19 weeks to September. HMV, which owns the Waterstone’s chain, has [...]
Green tipped for coalition September 6, 2010 HSBC chairman Stephen Green could stun the City by resigning to become the coalition government’s trade minister, it was reported last night. Green has been named as the frontrunner to take up the post after months of searching by Prime Minister David Cameron. He would succeed Lord Davies, who was lured away from Standard Chartered [...]
DAUGHTERS JOIN DADS FOR GALA FUNDRAISER September 6, 2010 IF THE remaining doubters needed proof that the City has opened its arms wide to the talents and potential of the fairer sex, look no further. The Mansion House yesterday evening played host to hundreds of guests for the latest gala fundraiser for Lord Mayor Nick Anstee’s charity Appeal: a dinner specifically for the fathers [...]
An income strategy has its benefits in uncertain times September 1, 2010 THERE seems to be no end to the uncertainty surrounding the outlook for the global economy. Bonds tend to be the first port-of-call in uncertain times. However with prices at multi-year highs investors are right to be nervous about entering into a long position from here. So what should investors do? UBS analysts claim that [...]
Good trading helps Punch cut net debt August 24, 2010 Punch Taverns, the country’s largest pubs group, said yesterday it expected full-year earnings to be slightly ahead of its previous expectations – reflecting a pub improvement programme, a good World Cup and sunny summer weather. The company, which runs more than 7,100 pubs, said sales at pubs it directly manages, which have been open for [...]
Swannell is the right man for M&S August 23, 2010 WHEN I had breakfast with Robert Swannell, the newly appointed chairman of Marks & Spencer recently, it was clear that the former investment banker was in anything but wind down mode. After three decades of working on mergers and acquisitions, sometimes over seven-day weeks involving late nights, Swannell could have been forgiven for putting his [...]
Swannell plans to juggle HMV and Marks & Spencer roles August 23, 2010 FORMER dealmaker Robert Swannell will remain on the board of HMV after taking the chair of Marks & Spencer in January, it is understood. Swannell, whose appointment as Sir Stuart Rose’s replacement was confirmed yesterday, will divide his time between the structurally challenged music chain and the all-purpose retailer. He will step down from the [...]
Swannell set to win M&S chairmanship August 22, 2010 ROBERT SWANNELL, the veteran investment banker and HMV boss, is expected to be confirmed as Sir Stuart Rose’s replacement at the chair of Marks & Spencer this week. Swannell spent the weekend thrashing out an agreement with M&S, friends said, and while his appointment was not sealed last night he is understood to be in [...]
M&S lines up new chairman to replace Rose August 20, 2010 Marks & Spencer is to name Robert Swannell as Sir Stuart Rose’s successor as chairman, according to Sky News. It said Swannell, currently a senior advisor of Citi Europe and chairman of HMV Group, the music and books retailer, would take up the role when Rose steps down next year. A spokeswoman for M&S declined [...]
Search is on for successor of ousted HP boss August 19, 2010 Hewlett-Packard yesterday named headhunting firm Spencer Stuart to lead the search for a new chief executive following ousting of Mark Hurd. The former boss was forced to resign for inaccurate expense claims brought to light in the wake of sexual harassment allegations by former porn star Jodie Fisher. Spencer Stuart will consider both internal and [...]