Watchdog calls for end to tick-box approach to corporate governance January 9, 2020 Audit watchdog the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) today said there was “significant room for improved corporate reporting” by FTSE companies. After an examination of corporate reporting last year against the 2016 UK corporate governance code and the 2018 code which has yet to take force but has been adopted by some companies, the watchdog found [...]
Marks and Spencer’s former finance chief to join Belron January 8, 2020 Marks & Spencer’s ex-finance chief will make a swift return to the corporate world, only eight days after leaving the British retail stalwart. Humphrey Singer, who worked for Marks &Spencer’s for less than two years, will become the new chief financial officer at Belron, a vehicle glass repair firm. Read more: Ocado joint venture with [...]
City of London appoints architects to re-design Smithfield Market January 8, 2020 The transformation of Smithfield Market has taken another step forward, with contracts awarded to design the new public space. The City of London Corporation is planning on combining the historic meat market with the New Spitafields vegetable market and the Billingsgate fish market in one site at Dagenham Dock. Read more: Extinction Rebellion group occupy [...]
Boozy boroughs: City of London tops list of boroughs who drink most often January 8, 2020 The City of London lived up to its boozy reputation in a new survey, topping a list of boroughs who go out for drinks most often. A survey by Babylon Health through its Healthcheck app revealed that residents of the Square Mile go out for 3.4 “drinking sessions” per week. Read more: City of London [...]
Public affairs giant Cicero joins Havas’ AMO network ahead of potential acquisition January 8, 2020 The UK’s largest public affairs agency Cicero is set to join AMO, a network of communications firms owned by or affiliated to Paris-based media giant Havas. Cicero, which is currently based in the City, will move into Havas’ Kings Cross headquarters this weekend. Read more: PR giants embroiled in war of words after Tulchan appoints [...]
Fitness startup Classpass becomes a unicorn with $285m funding round January 8, 2020 Fitness startup Classpass today announced the close of a $285m funding round, pushing its total value past $1bn. The round, which was led by L Catterton and Apax Digital, means that the American company has joined the ranks of the so-called unicorns, startups which have raised more than $1bn in funding. Read more: Puregym expands [...]
NMC Health stocks fall after $490m sell off flagged by major shareholders January 8, 2020 NMC Health’s stock price plummeted this morning after news that two of its controlling shareholders were looking to offload $490m (£373.53m) of shares. Shares in the healthcare company are down 14 per cent to 1283p as the market reacted to a statement saying Mohamed al-Qebaisi and Khalifa Butti al-Muhairi were looking to offload their substantial [...]
The changing face of income January 8, 2020 Henderson High Income Trust celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, having launched in 1989. This was the same year that Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. Given Henderson High Income provides shareholder with a high dividend income by predominately investing in UK companies, this article looks at how the internet has led the UK market [...]
City Moves for 8 January – Who’s switching jobs at Kantar, Wealthify and Reed Smith? January 8, 2020 Today’s City Moves includes Kantar, Wealthify and Reed Smith Kantar Data, insights and consulting company Kantar has announced the appointment of Ian Griffiths as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Ian succeeds Robert Bowtell who has been CFO since 2001. Most recently Ian was chief operating officer (COO) and CFO of ITV, where he played [...]
BBC iPlayer bags best ever festive fortnight thanks to Gavin and Stacey boost January 8, 2020 The BBC has hailed its most successful Christmas catch-up period ever as viewers clamoured for top shows such as Gavin and Stacey. BBC iPlayer booked 203m requests to download or stream programmes between 20 December and 2 January – up more than a third on last year and a new record for the platform. Read [...]