On this day: The collapse of Barings Bank February 26, 2026 On 26 February 1995, 31 years ago today, Baring Bank, one of the City’s most venerable institutions, was declared insolvent after a massive fraud by one of its employees, Nick Leeson, recalls Eliot Wilson In the 1990s, following the wake of Big Bang and the influx of brash but wealthy, “Greed is good, greed is [...]
Made to be broken? Reeves urged to keep fiscal rules February 26, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to keep her fiscal rules amid growing calls for tweaks to be made to factor in long-term investments and demands for higher defence spending. Richard Hughes, the most recent chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), called on Reeves to see out her fiscal rules through parliament. Appearing [...]
Employment law changes could mean huge payouts for under-performing private equity execs February 26, 2026 Private equity often hires on a “perform, or else” basis, with senior executives are left exposed to deliver positive results (and fast). But changes to employment will make it harder – and more expensive – to sack anyone with more than six months’ service, writes Jade Gooding The challenges facing the UK economy continue to [...]
Service sector profits continue long decline February 26, 2026 Profitability in the UK’s service sector declined for the seventeenth consecutive rolling quarter, according to new data, with businesses reporting few signs of improvement on the horizon. The Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) latest survey on the service sector showed that rising costs put businesses’ bottom line under pressure. A weighted balance of -28 per [...]
Amadeus Acquires SkyLink to Accelerate the Deployment of AI in Travel February 25, 2026 As the industry moves from AI proof of concepts to adoption, Amadeus takes the next step in delivering meaningful AI use cases at scale with the acquisition of SkyLink Amadeus to enable smarter, more automated and faster travel bookings by adding SkyLink’s AI-driven conversational technology to its product portfolio to assist travelers and employees on the road
Orbia Announces CFO Transition and Appointment of Successor February 25, 2026 Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ORBIA*) (“Orbia” or “the Company”) announced today that James P. “Jim” Kelly will retire as Chief Financial Officer after four years of service. The Company also announced that Cristian “Cape” Capellino will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer effective March 15, 2026. Kelly joined Orbia in 2021 [...]
Sheffield Wednesday: New buyers sought after £40m takeover collapses February 25, 2026 Sheffield Wednesday fans have called for a new buyer to be found urgently after the consortium behind a proposed £40m takeover of the fallen English football giants pulled out. A group led by James Bord, a co-owner of Scottish club Dunfermline, was named preferred bidder in December but announced today that they were withdrawing their [...]
Tracey Emin at the Tate Modern review – raw, real and radical February 25, 2026 Tracey Emin: A Second Life | Tate Modern | ★★★★☆ When Damien Hirst’s major retrospective rolled into the Tate Modern all the way back in 2012, it came with a sense of celebration. The multi-millionnaire artist who put British art back on the map had returned with a willy-waving exhibition of his greatest hits. The [...]
Alkermes plc Announces CEO Succession Plan February 25, 2026 — Richard Pops to Retire from Role of Chief Executive Officer Following Distinguished 35-year Career with Alkermes — — Board of Directors Appointed Blair Jackson, Alkermes’ Current Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, as CEO Effective as of August 1, 2026 — — Richard Pops to Continue to Serve as Chairman of the Alkermes Board of Directors —
Microsoft hops on Lizzie line in search for new London HQ February 25, 2026 Microsoft has hopped on the Elizabeth Line in its search for a new London headquarters, with the US tech giant eyeing up Paddington and Canary Wharf as potential homes. The tech firm needs upwards of 200,000 sq ft from its new office and is seeking advice from CBRE, according to the Financial Times. Office space [...]