City Views: Where do you think Tesco went wrong and what is your view on the CEO change? July 21, 2014 PAUL O’REILLY | VIRTUAL 1 I believe that Tesco should get rid of sections such as gardening and homeware. Also, Tesco was wrong to introduce auto-checkouts, as it needlessly cut of hundreds of jobs. I have no view on the CEO change other than I hope he will improve the company. RICHARD HILL-TOUT | SAUL TRUSTEE COMPANY [...]
City of London and Westminster property tribes (almost) put rivalry aside July 21, 2014 The City of London and Westminster’s property giants put their old rivalries aside last night, as they came together in the House of Lords to launch Building Central London’s Future – A Manifesto For Growth. Well, almost… First to the stage was co-founder of Exemplar Properties and chairman of Westminster Property Association Daniel Van Gelder, [...]
London Report: FTSE falls as tobacco stocks are burned by $23.6bn US fine July 21, 2014 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday, with tobacco stocks hit by a multi-billion-dollar fine against RJ Reynolds in the United States and retailers slipping after a profit warning from Tesco. The prospect of further sanctions by the West against Russia over last week’s downing of an airliner over Ukraine also discouraged investors from making big [...]
Too big to succeed? How Tesco’s new leader can take on the toxic retailer July 21, 2014 The last-minute cancellation of his “40 years at Tesco” party suggests that Philip Clarke’s departure came as a big surprise. But in truth, his future at Tesco had been looking increasingly bleak for months. The man himself conceded as much in March, with his surprise statement at a conference that his days as chief executive [...]
Dave Lewis: Tesco share prices jumps as investors bet on new CEO’s strong Unilever record July 21, 2014 Investors have been reassured by the appointment of Dave Lewis as Tesco's new top dog. Despite a profit warning, Tesco's shares sprang up by as much as three per cent as markets opened. Part of that can be explained by the coming departure of CEO Philip Clarke. While he will continue to serve in his [...]
Tesco share price up on CEO exit despite profit warning July 21, 2014 Shares in Tesco rallied almost two per cent this morning on the news that boss Philip Clarke is standing down, despite the retailer saying sales and profits would fall below expectations. Tesco's share price jumped 1.8 per cent as investors responded positively to Clarke's departure and his replacement, Unilever's Dave Lewis, the first outsider to take [...]
Tesco chief exec Philip Clarke relieved to be out as supermarket issues profit warning July 21, 2014 Tesco boss Philip Clarke has said he is relieved to be leaving the struggling supermarket as the retailer issued a profit warning. Britain's largest retailer said sales and profit in the first half of the year are below expectations. Clarke oversaw Tesco's attempt at repositioning in the face of tough market conditions and increasing competition [...]
Lake Capital in talks to back Engine Group July 21, 2014 The Engine Group, owner of PR firm MHP Communications and ad agency WCRS, is set to announce a major investment by Lake Capital by the end of the week. The London-based company’s 13 agencies provide services including advertising, lobbying and marketing to major brands including Tesco, Coca Cola and Lloyds Banking Group. MHP also advised [...]
The Hut Group in line for £100m KKR investment July 21, 2014 US private equity firm KKR, the owner of Boots, is set to take a major stake in online retailer The Hut Group, its first foray into the burgeoning online fashion market. A group of investors led by KKR will buy just under 20 per cent of the Manchester-based company from existing shareholders for about £100m. [...]
Tumbleweed moment for Tesco as Philip Clarke auction price stumbles July 21, 2014 Tesco suppliers, celebrity chefs, an Eastenders actor and a British touring car racer all gathered in Old Billingsgate on Friday night for the decidedly unsexy-sounding Tesco Packaged Food Summer Ball. But while chefs Raymond Blanc and Tom Kerridge mingled with Tesco’s suppliers, chief exec Philip Clarke was nowhere to be seen, something which later transpired [...]