Review: How John Lewis has used a bear and a hare to lure in Xmas trade November 7, 2013 WITH just one John Lewis product used in the whole advert – an alarm clock given to a bear by a hare so that he can wake up from hibernation to enjoy Christmas – its keenly awaited Christmas advert appears at first glance oddly non-commercial. But by deciding to use animation and a simple tale [...]
Employers protected from mental health claims after landmark ruling April 16, 2015 Employers could be protected from paying out compensation for "causing" mental health problems among their employees, following a landmark ruling in the UK. The ruling came after John Yapp, a former British high commissioner to Belize, was suspended and subjected to a disciplinary process in 2008 after being accused of making a sexual advance towards [...]
Tesco hopes Allan is the key to resolving its lingering problems February 17, 2015 John Allan turned around Dixons, but can he now reboot Tesco? ONE sat on the board of high street electricals giant Dixons Carphone while the other has already led a successful turnaround of supermarket Asda. Both Archie Norman and John Allan were considered strong contenders for the chairman role at Tesco, but last night the [...]
SuperGroup gets ready for a hot autumn with “broadest and best range of jackets” September 4, 2014 SuperGroup boss Julian Dunkerton declared yesterday that sales were back in shape after the colder weather and the approach of autumn drove customers back into its stores. The owner of the Superdry fashion brand posted a 3.7 per cent decline in like-for-like sales in the first quarter of the year to 27 July after facing [...]
Patrick Cescau exits Tesco board in clear-out – to be replaced by Richard Cousins March 23, 2015 Patrick Cescau, the senior non-executive Tesco director who led the search for the supermarket's new chairman, is leaving the firm's board, confirming speculation of his departure. Cescau's departure comes after six years with the retailer – it was widely believed he would depart after a new chairman was named to clear the way for a [...]
Euan Sutherland relaxes into SuperGroup’s clothing after taking on chief exec role October 22, 2014 Euan Sutherland looked relaxed and rested yesterday as he announced his new role as chief executive of high street fashion retailer SuperGroup. As if to prove his unswerving loyalty to the cult brand, the soft-spoken 6ft 6in Scotsman is dressed head-to-toe in Superdry clothing, including a navy blue pea coat, which he enthuses is “absolutely [...]
City Moves for 30 June 2014 | Who’s switching jobs June 29, 2014 Unigestion The boutique institutional asset manager has appointed Jérôme Teiletche as managing director, head of cross asset solutions. He will also join its executive committee. Teiletche previously worked for Lombard Odier Investment Managers, where he was head of the solutions group. RSA The insurer has appointed Steve Lewis as chief executive for the UK and [...]
Tesco’s Patrick Cescau is latest to quit in boardroom shake-up March 23, 2015 PATRICK Cescau, Tesco’s senior non-executive director who led the search for the supermarket’s new chairman, will become the latest to leave next month in an ongoing shake-up of its board and management team. Cescau, who was at one point seen as a candidate for the chairman role himself, helped recruit Barratt boss John Allan to [...]
LiteBulb Group’s Simon McGivern and James Phillips talk Mary Berry, cashpoint encounters and woodwork January 18, 2015 It's not every day that you bump into an old friend at a cash machine in Fulham and end up hatching a business – but then Simon McGivern and James Phillips, the founders of LiteBulb Group, are not your average pair. They went to school together (although they didn’t know each other very well) and [...]
House market recovery lifts Dixons’ sales September 9, 2014 DIXONS CARPHONE, the newly formed high street giant, said yesterday it had made a strong start to the year, with sales basking in the aftermath of the World Cup and benefitting from rising consumer confidence. Chief executive Sebastian James said that the recovery in the housing market helped to boost demand and that while consumer [...]