Sky-high skiing and Mario Kart sledding in France’s Three Valleys December 10, 2019 I’ve mastered the chair lift, and nine times out of 10 will make it to the top of a drag lift without ending up on my behind in the snow. The suggestion I received over drinks in a bar that I might want to try “skiing on a rope” at 100 km an hour, however, [...]
Former Hbos chief executive set to take top job at The Restaurant Group May 1, 2019 The former chief executive of Hbos is set to be appointed chief executive at Wagamama-owner The Restaurant Group. Sky News reported that Andy Hornby had been given the job with his role expected to be announced as soon as tomorrow. Read more: The Restaurant Group profits fall as like-for-like sales slip Hornby has reportedly resigned [...]
Boots’ UK stores drag on Walgreen Boots Alliance’s international sales January 4, 2018 Boots' UK stores acted as a drag on the international sales of Walgreens Boots Alliance in the first quarter, the pharmaceutical giant said today. Internationally, the retail pharmacy arm of Walgreens Boots Alliance brought in sales of $3.1bn (£2.3bn), an increase of 4.1 per cent year-on-year. On a constant currency basis, sales fell 0.8 per [...]
Treasury watchdog has huge task ahead October 24, 2019 Westminster isn’t a happy place these days. MPs leave under police escort while protesters from both sides of the Brexit stalemate berate them; conventions in parliament are tested almost to destruction by the Speaker and ministers alike; a domestic legislative agenda exists only on paper; the government cannot govern and the opposition demand an election [...]
Woodford Trust and Metro Bank kicked from FTSE 250 list September 4, 2019 Neil Woodford’s investment trust and high street lender Metro Bank have been booted out of the FTSE 250 list of the 101st to the 350th largest listed companies in Britain. Read more: Ally quits Neil Woodford’s trust Also kicked from the list were retailer Ted Baker and shopping centre owner Intu Holdings, whose market capitalisations [...]
From big hitters to big quitters: Three FTSE resignations surprise the City October 2, 2019 A trio of City big-hitters shocked the Square Mile this morning after revealing plans to resign from their companies. Tesco boss Dave Lewis, Standard Life Aberdeen fund veteran Martin Gilbert and Metro Bank chairman Vernon Hill all said today that they will be leaving their posts. The triple-whammy of surprise announcements was met with mixed [...]
How do you solve a problem like Wirecard? June 19, 2020 It’s been a wild ride for Wirecard. When the German payments firm premiered on the prestigious blue-chip Dax index just two years ago, shares were priced at €200 apiece. Today, prices hit as low as €20 per share, forcing out chief executive Markus Braun and leaving the future of the digital payments firm in question. [...]
Tory MP Clifton-Brown told to leave conference after ‘totally unacceptable’ altercation October 1, 2019 It’s all kicking off at the Conservative party conference. While the gloves might be off metaphorically in Westminster, in Manchester MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was involved in a real-life altercation with a delegate this afternoon. Authorities put the press room on lock down during the kerfuffle, meaning journalists could not get to the incident, in [...]
The Honda e concept dream is now an electric reality February 3, 2020 The Honda e electric car is a dream come true for enthusiasts. “Just build it!” they said, after seeing the original 2017 concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Three years later, here it is, a ray of sunshine despite the best efforts of Storm Gloria in Valencia. “We’ve not seen anything like it in [...]
Reshuffling the deck: Loyalty, not merit, is the key to a promotion February 14, 2020 Politics may be show business for ugly people, but cabinet reshuffles have more of a feel of football’s transfer deadline day. Ambitious and hopeful MPs keep their phones close by, hoping to see a withheld number and hear the words “Downing Street for you”. Hacks and politicos watch on the sidelines, tracking who is in [...]