Aviva sees new business rise by £690m after major restructuring October 30, 2014 Restructuring at insurer Aviva is paying off as reforms pushed through by chief executive Mark Wilson delivered a 15 per cent increase in new business in the year to date, worth £690m. Especially strong performances in Europe and Asia, which saw rises of 40 per cent and 47 per cent respectively, boosted the growth. Wilson, [...]
Investment boss Abberley takes over as Charles Stanley’s chief October 27, 2014 CHARLES Stanley yesterday promoted chief investment officer Paul Abberley to the role of chief executive. The top job became vacant last month when new EU rules forced chairman Sir David Howard to relinquish his executive role – the Capital Requirement Directive argues the chairman should oversee the executives, rather than holding both jobs at once. [...]
Ex-Stobart boss back at the controls October 27, 2014 A NEW investment vehicle led by ex-Stobart boss Avril Palmer-Baunack and backed by blue chip investors braved choppy markets yesterday to announce a float of the business. Haversham, a specialist vehicle set up by executive chairman Palmer-Baunack and investment firm Marwyn, said investors from Invesco, Artemis, Aviva and Schroders will support the share placing, which [...]
Banks to report as BT is likely to reveal growth – London Report October 26, 2014 THIS WEEK sees a number of banks reporting, with four of the UK’s five biggest lenders due to reveal third-quarter results. Lloyds and Standard Chartered report tomorrow. With Lloyds the focus is expected to be on 9,000 job cuts and a string of branch closures. Standard Chartered’s execs have been under pressure this year. After [...]
City Moves for 24 October 2014 | Who’s switching jobs October 23, 2014 Johnson & Johnson The health and beauty products maker has appointed Yana Ignatova as head of marketing for northern Europe. Prior to joining the firm, Ignatova spent 17 years at Proctor & Gamble, where she held a senior marketing position. Aviva Investors Charlie Diebel has been appointed head of rates strategy by the asset management [...]
Kingston’s Bentall Centre up for grabs with £200m-plus price tag October 16, 2014 Bentall shopping centre in Kingston upon Thames has been put up for sale after one of its owners appointed advisers to sell its 50 per cent stake, with a price-tag of around £200m. It is one of the busiest malls in Greater London, with 700,000 square feet of space and 14m visitors a year from [...]
City Moves for 17 October 2014 | Who’s switching jobs October 16, 2014 Savills The real estate advisory firm has appointed Jim Wickens as a director in its London-based building and project consultancy team. He has more than 20 years’ experience, and joins from Cluttons. Wickens has also previously held roles at Broadgate Estates, Drivers Jonas and Bucknall Austin. Aviva Investors The asset manager has announced two appointments [...]
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 [...]
City Moves for 9 October 2014 | Who’s switching jobs October 8, 2014 Fidelity Worldwide Investment Peter Horrell has been appointed managing director of the investment firm’s UK business. He has spent the past 24 years at Barclays, where he was most recently chief executive of wealth and investment management. Sovereign Land The retail and leisure developer and asset management firm has appointed Luke Winstanley as senior analyst. [...]
Electra share price drops as shareholders fend off activist investor Edward Bramson and Sherborne Investors October 6, 2014 Electra shareholders have fended off a bid by activist investor Edward Bramson to join the private equity fund’s board at its annual general meeting today. The move sent shares in Electra down almost two per cent this morning. Bramson’s Sherborne Investors had sought backing for reform of the group, with the elusive investor telling shareholders [...]