Mandelson extends scrappage scheme September 28, 2009 CAR industry bodies have welcomed the government’s decision to extend the cash-for-bangers scheme, saying it will help the ailing automotive sector achieve a lasting recovery. Business secretary Lord Mandelson announced at the Labour party conference yesterday a £100m extension to the scheme, which equates to 100,000 vehicles. He also widened the cut-off period to trade [...]
Downturn will be the golden age for the CFO November 25, 2009 THE current worldwide downturn is shining a spotlight on the role of the modern chief financial officer (CFO). Companies are now placing far greater reliance on the CFO’s advice and understanding than they have done in the past. Finance leaders and their teams are now seen as a valuable resource to guide companies through the [...]
FINANCIAL TIMES November 5, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES LULA CALLS ON LEADERS TO ATTEND CLIMATE TALKSBrazil’s president has challenged other world leaders to attend next month’s climate talks in Copenhagen to break the deadlock in negotiations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told the Financial Times he would speak to Barack Obama, US president, next week to [...]
FINANCIAL TIMES November 5, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES LULA CALLS ON LEADERS TO ATTEND CLIMATE TALKSBrazil’s president has challenged other world leaders to attend next month’s climate talks in Copenhagen to break the deadlock in negotiations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told the Financial Times he would speak to Barack Obama, US president, next week to [...]
Correction: John Connolly August 5, 2009 We stated yesterday that Deloitte senior partner and chief executive of the UK office and chairman of its global management committee John Connolly was the chief auditor to RBS. This is not the case.
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS July 29, 2009 Kreab Gavin AndersonTom Grimmer has joined communications firm Kreab Gavin Anderson as managing partner, China. Grimmer will be based in Beijing and will advise multinational companies as well as Chinese corporations with international growth plans. He has worked and studied in Asia since 1985, previously working as senior communications advisor, Asia Pacific, to Credit Suisse [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS August 6, 2009 LUUPTory MP Michael Howard has joined independent global mobile financial provider LUUP as chairman. The former home secretary is retiring from Parliament to develop an international business career. The position adds to his current business profile as chairman of Northern Racing, deputy chairman of Entrée Gold and a non-executive director of Helphire group. Tenon RecoveryTenon [...]
Huge 300bn hole in FTSE 100 pensions July 16, 2009 THE total pension deficit at FTSE 100 companies has more than doubled since January, rising to a staggering £300bn, Deloitte said yesterday. Fallout from the global financial crisis has decimated the value of pension funds’ investments, the accountancy giant said, adding that the shortfall could take 50 years to clear if firms continue to contribute [...]
SpinVox looks to mend its image August 9, 2009 SpinVox, the company that converts voice recordings into text messages, has hired public relations firm Brunswick to help fix its image, after allegations of financial mismanagement. The company, led by chief executive Christina Domecq, has been beset by problems ever since allegations surfaced that its messages were being transcribed in call centres abroad. SpinVox, which [...]
Retail sales fall to 2001 levels July 15, 2009 Retail sales per square foot have fallen to levels last seen in 2001, according to the business advisory firm Deloitte. While consumer spending has weakened in the recession, it is the relentless growth in capacity that has dramatically brought returns per foot down, Deloitte said. It estimates that the industry has added more than 50m [...]