City Matters: Our economic problems won’t go away just because it’s an election year January 4, 2015 AS MANY workers return to their offices today after a well-deserved break, attention turns to the economic challenges that we are going to face in 2015. On that list are a number of issues, all of which present concerns to varying degrees: a snap election in Greece adding to Eurozone uncertainty; the perennial speculation about [...]
The HS2 debate is over: It’s time to embrace the benefits July 19, 2015 One of the consequences of this year’s General Election is that HS2, the high-speed line from London to the Midlands and the North, is now almost certain to happen. The immediate challenge for London business is to take advantage of the huge opportunities it provides for regeneration and development in west London, where a new [...]
No time for Tinder? Dating tutorials for City bankers in Canary Wharf from Social Concierge July 13, 2015 Calling all City singletons: are you really bad at dating? Have no fear, elite private dating club Social Concierge is offering free consultations all over the capital to financial workers left emotionally numb by high-flying careers. With their big bonuses and fast-paced lifestyles it’s hard to believe that bankers struggle to find love. But [...]
Economics secretary Harriett Baldwin: It’s in our national interest to keep the City competitive July 16, 2015 As someone who spent two decades in the UK’s financial services industry, I know well that this sector is hugely important for people and businesses across the country. We need a highly competitive business environment to support that, and today I'm speaking at The City UK’s conference about the steps we are taking to strengthen [...]
Surprise drop in top dog pay: Report shows FTSE chiefs taking home less cash in real terms August 16, 2015 Average pay packages for FTSE 100 chief execs fell in real terms over the course of the most recently-recorded year, according to a new report out today. Bosses at British blue chip firms took home an average of £4.96m in 2014, compared with £4.92m in 2013, according to the High Pay Centre think tank. Adjusting [...]
Why the future of fintech (and financial services) is collaborative September 22, 2015 The UK is fast becoming one of the world’s leading fintech centres. So it was fitting that, last week, investors, consultants, multinationals, startups and entrepreneurs gathered in London’s East End for FinTech Week 2015: an event where attendees could share ideas, network and, most importantly, do business together. The expo focused on how to [...]
City Moves for 26 June 2015 | Who’s switching jobs June 25, 2015 Baker Tilly The professional services firm has appointed Kenny McLean as a director in its consulting practice. He joins from Certeco, where he was a director overseeing client change programmes. McLean has also held roles at KPMG, IBM, SAP and EDS. CBRE The commercial real estate services and investment firm has announced two appointments to [...]
China’s stock market turmoil could spell bad news for London flotations August 26, 2015 When China sneezes, IPO-hungry investment bankers in London catch colds: it’s not quite as catchy as the original epithet, but it contains a distinct ring of truth. China’s stock market turmoil is unlikely to be a short-term phenomenon: the schizophrenic exhortations of Beijing to simultaneously beware of, and embrace, the ultimate expression of a [...]
City Moves for 15 June 2015 | Who’s switching jobs June 14, 2015 Zeus Capital The investment bank has appointed Phil Walker as head of healthcare corporate finance. He was most recently executive director in corporate finance at Nomura Code Securities, a boutique investment banking firm he co-founded. Walker has also held roles at WestLB Panmure and Panmure Gordon. Charles Stanley Ben Money-Coutts has been appointed chief financial [...]
City Moves for 13 August 2015 | Who’s switching jobs August 12, 2015 Weightmans The law firm has appointed Seva Singh as partner in its large loss and technical claims insurance division. He joins from DAC Beachcroft, and specialises in high value personal injury litigation handling. Octopus Investments Pete Daffern has been appointed venture partner at the venture capital firm. He joins Octopus with 25 years’ experience, and [...]