The skills you’ll need at every leadership level August 10, 2014 Most of us intend to climb the career ladder, and there’s no shortage of advice about the skills you need to succeed as a leader. But which ones matter most, and how can you ensure you keep improving them? Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, chief executive and president of development consultancy Zenger/Folkman, surveyed over [...]
Hedgies high on the hog at Hedge Brunch’s Avenue summer bash July 31, 2014 St James's Street played host to a hoard of hedgies last night, as Hedge Brunch threw its summer soirée at Avenue restaurant. Founder of LNG Capital Louis Gargour was there, chatting to Alcova’s Russell Hart and Tom Pontin. “When Gus [Morison – HedgeBrunch founder] told me he was getting out of the industry to [...]
Reed Elsevier buys Wunelli to beef up its telematics business May 20, 2014 INFORMATION services group Reed Elsevier has bought UK-based Wunelli, a telematics provider, in a deal thought to be worth around £25m. Telematics, the practice of sending data about drivers to an insurance company to calculate an accurate personal premium, is growing in popularity in the UK. Reed acquired the company in a bid to beef [...]
Princess Diana’s wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel talks Catch-22s and Richard Branson November 23, 2014 You'd be hard pressed to get one up on Elizabeth Emanuel when it comes to heydays – and the fashion designer hasn’t just had one. At the age of 28, she designed the wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer – a day she wouldn’t trade for the world, she says. And ten years later, [...]
Suarez bites bullet and sets up £80m Barca switch June 30, 2014 LIVERPOOL and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez last night paved the way for a big-money transfer to Barcelona by finally issuing an apology for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. Six days after the incident that shocked the World Cup and earned him a four-month ban from all football activity, Suarez spoke of “deep regret” and promised [...]
Admiral speeds ahead despite motor insurance price battle August 29, 2013 WELSH car insurance firm Admiral yesterday reported a healthy rise in profits – but admitted that fierce competition is affecting its British division. “We didn’t grow the UK insurance business, which was great news because of the competitive environment,” said chief executive Henry Engelhardt. “Any time you can increase profits by six per cent when competitors [...]
Is management speak always a waste of time? August 13, 2014 It’s annoying, but corporate jargon can often serve a useful purpose. When thinking of management gurus, the last person to come to mind is the comic singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. But his recently released album Mandatory Fun provides some cutting observations about the kind of jargon that’s taken over business. One track, Mission [...]
Review: The new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante July 28, 2014 There’s a certain inevitability about Aston Martin; it’s impossible to discuss it without referencing James Bond. Even when BMW was the brand supplying 007’s cars, he was thought of as an Aston driver. The British sports car firm delights in the association, as you perhaps would if you could call upon the power of the [...]
Behind a silver screen: Lionsgate’s Zygi Kamasa talks pensioners, big tellies and Colin Firth October 5, 2014 The movie business is known for taking no prisoners. And for those that do try their hand at it, success is often fleeting. But Zygi Kamasa, the UK chief executive of entertainment company Lionsgate, has proved that, by playing your cards right, passion can lead to success. Over the past two decades, he’s been involved [...]
City & Gild: Rolf Harris, Andy Coulson and the business of image over behaviour July 4, 2014 I’m gutted about Rolf Harris. A budding artist as a kid, I watched Rolf on a regular basis, taking great delight in his incredible talent and bizarre catchphrases. I am loath to admit I have even hummed his songs every now and then. I believed in Rolf Harris. He cultivated an image of a genuine, [...]