Return to hiring across the UK boosts Walters March 3, 2014 WHITE collar recruiter Robert Walters has cheered signs of a broad bounce in the British jobs market that has helped boost its profits 30 per cent. The firm’s eponymous chief executive said the recovery in hiring after several tough years has a “rather solid nature”. “It’s not led by only one specialist area, it’s across [...]
Serco shares rocket on appointment of Aggreko chief February 28, 2014 Scandal-hit Serco has announced this morning that it’s appointed Rupert Soames, current chief executive (CEO) of Aggreko, as its new CEO. Shares have jumped over 10 per cent on the news. Source: Google Chris Hyman, the company’s last boss, left in October, following the string of fiascos concerning the electronic tagging of prisoners. Last [...]
Scottish independence is WPP’s new “grey swan” threat February 27, 2014 The “grey swans”, or known unknowns, are a regular feature of WPP’s results statements. Sir Martin Sorrell’s advertising outfit said today that most of the recent global swans are becoming whiter, as Chinese fragility and the prospects for the Middle East become less of a worry. But the Scottish referendum has made an appearance as [...]
Hays on a hiring drive as UK jobs market warms February 26, 2014 RECRUITMENT firm Hays is confident of a sustained rise in white-collar hiring in Britain this year, and is adding more staff of its own to keep up with the pace of demand. Hays said net fees in the UK and Ireland rose nine per cent to £10.1m in the last half of 2013, with almost [...]
JP Morgan cuts jobs and reduces profit target as top exec quits February 25, 2014 THE BIGGEST bank in America, JP Morgan, warned of job cuts and a reduction in profit for 2014 during an investor conference yesterday. Shares in the company were down 1.72 per cent at market close after the news. Around 8,000 jobs are expected to go at the bank, the majority from its mortgage division where 17,000 [...]
7 UK retail bosses that have quit unexpectedly February 24, 2014 Mothercare’s future on the UK high street looked promising when Simon Calver, the former head of online movie rental service Lovefilm, was appointed by chairman Alan Parker two years ago to lead its turnaround efforts. The board banked on his online experience to overhaul its estate and turn the chain into a multi-channel retailer. But [...]
5 British people who have been fired and still succeeded February 24, 2014 Our commiserations go out to Piers Morgan as we hear the British presenter, and his controversial views on gun-control, have been axed from CNN’s prime time slot following a slide in viewing figures. It may be a tad embarrassing but getting the old heave ho from a role certainly doesn’t spell disaster for anyone. [...]
Why anyone who thinks Bernie Madoff owes them money should get to a Post Office. Like, now February 21, 2014 The Financial Conduct Authority has just sent out its very own final reminder notice, warning investors who lost money at the hands of convicted fraudster Bernard Madoff that they have just seven days to file a claim for compensation with the Madoff Victim Fund. Bernie's victims are pointed towards a dedicated Department of Justice [...]
Market reaction to the Facebook-Whatsapp deal is leaving this investment veteran feeling “old and tired” February 21, 2014 The market loved Facebok's $19bn Whatsapp shopping spree – but it's leaving some feeling confused. Bronte Capital's chief investment officer John Hempton writes that while he once held Facebook stock, he is "no longer so in tune with valuation" of the social media giant. The investment guru works for the Australian and USA licensed global fund [...]
Shearman lifts London revenue February 20, 2014 US LAW firm Shearman & Sterling has posted a 20 per cent hike in revenues at its London office, its fourth year of growth in the capital. Turnover at the firm rose from $112.6m (£67.61m) to $134.8m in the 2012-13 financial year, led by a strong performance in the high-yield and finance practices. Global revenues at the [...]