The airline boss with a hit list of 12 bid targets in his desk drawer September 13, 2010 It is clear that British Airways (BA) chief executive Willie Walsh always likes to keep his foot hard on the pedal. The Dublin-born airline boss is in the middle of a bitter 18-month dispute with his cabin crew, and only a few weeks ago received US and European regulatory clearance to pursue a transatlantic tie-up [...]
West Coast move for UMG boss Grainge September 12, 2010 LUCIAN Grainge, the newly-ensconced chief executive of Universal Music Group who went out to the US a couple of months ago to take up his new post, has based himself in California. He had originally planned to be based – with his wife and children – in New York before changing plans. Grainge’s move marks [...]
COMPANY OF THE YEAR | The Shortlist September 12, 2010 IT has been another tough year for business. The sovereign debt crisis rocked already shaky market confidence, while uncertainty has kept consumers from splashing out. It is in hard times that reputations are made, though, and over the past year the best have bounced back. Both retailers on our list have, in their different ways, [...]
Burger King chief named September 9, 2010 3G CAPITAL said yesterday it plans to name Bernardo Hees chief executive of Burger King Holdings when it closes its $3.26bn (£2.11bn) purchase of the world’s second-largest hamburger chain later this year. Hees, who joined the US private equity firm as a partner in July, was most recently boss of America Latina Logistica, Latin America’s [...]
Thorntons is hit by a fresh drop in profit September 8, 2010 CHOCOLATE retailer Thorntons yesterday posted a 2.4 per cent fall in half-year profit as it prepared to name a replacement for outgoing chief executive Mike Davies. Chairman John von Spreckelsen said talks with a prospective new chief were well advanced but he reamained tight-lipped about who the candidate is. Acting chief executive Mark Robson will [...]
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR | The Shortlist September 7, 2010 WHETHER it’s advising firms, publishing reports or driving efficiency, professional services firms are never far from the front line in the City. With their global reach and diversified portfolios, the best-known firms have emerged looking healthy and ready to face the challenges of the new, post-downturn world. Don’t miss the City event of the year – [...]
Q&A: WHAT IS THE DISPUTE ABOUT? September 6, 2010 Q.WHY ARE WORKERS STRIKING? A.London Underground staff, as represented by unions RMT and TSSA, are striking against proposals by London Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) to cut up to 800 station jobs, including ticketing staff and station management in a bid to save the cash-starved network from a series of government funding [...]
BOOST FOR CITY AS FIRMS HIRE AGAIN September 5, 2010 MORE than 800 new staff are to be recruited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as the professional services giant bounced back from recession with a revenue rise. The firm will today announce that it has bounced back from the global financial crisis strongly as it releases its results for the year to the end of June. The [...]
Travelex boss to buy The Office in £43.3m deal September 5, 2010 LLOYD DORFMAN, founder of currency exchange Travelex, is to acquire serviced office company The Office Group for £43.3m. Dorfman is acquiring the company from Bridges Ventures, the private equity firm launched by Sir Ronald Cohen and dedicated to urban regeneration. Dorfman will take over a portfolio of six sites in London and one in Bristol, [...]
Man gets go-ahead to acquire GLG September 1, 2010 MAN GROUP shareholders have given its recommended takeover of GLG Partners the green light, and the firm yesterday appointed GLG’s Emmanuel Roman as chief operating officer for the enlarged group. Over 90 per cent of Man investors yesterday voted in support of the $1.6bn (£1.03bn) buyout of New York-based GLG during the firm’s annual general [...]