WPP invests in George Pyne’s new sports marketing startup January 6, 2015 The world’s largest communications services group, WPP, announced yesterday that it was leading a syndicate investing $250m (£165m) in Bruin Sports Capital, a sports marketing startup. Bruin was launched by former IMG sports and entertainment president George Pyne. Bruin will build its portfolio organically as well through acquisitions and investments in established sports marketing businesses, [...]
Smith & Nephew share price soars 8pc on Stryker takeover reports December 24, 2014 Shares in medical equipment group Smith & Nephew surged eight per cent this morning, valuing the business at £10.4bn on the back of reports of a possible takeover by US group Stryker. Stryker, a US surgical implants manufacturer, denied it has any intention to buy the company back in May. However, Last month, it was [...]
New WPP chair Roberto Quarta quits top jobs at IMI and Stockwell December 17, 2014 Incoming WPP chairman Roberto Quarta is leaving a second senior position before he takes up the role in June. Quarta has agreed to step down as chairman of industrial group IMI as soon as a successor is found. And City A.M. understands he is also leaving Stockwell, where he acted as an adviser to the firm’s [...]
WPP ends its chairman search by hiring Roberto Quarta from IMI December 16, 2014 Roberto Quarta has told the industrial group IMI that he will step down as chairman by the middle of next year in order to take up a similar role at WPP, the marketing services giant. Quarta, a respected industrialist, will replace Philip Lader as chairman of WPP. Lader has held the job since 2001, slightly longer [...]
WPP awaits a new era on its board – Editor’s Letter December 9, 2014 By the time the last of the chocolates have been foraged from the Advent Calendar, or thereabouts, WPP, the giant advertising group run by Sir Martin Sorrell, will very likely have chosen a new chair for the company’s board. The group, which has had regular spats with shareholders over the scale of its executive pay, [...]
Sir Philip Green and Sir Charles Dunstone’s PR Christmas toast at The&Partnership Mark’s Club party December 9, 2014 It's barely a year old, but media agency The&Partnership, headed up by adman Johnny Hornby and backed by WPP, enjoyed a starstudded, if low-key, Christmas drinks party on Monday night at Mark’s Club in Mayfair. Sir Charles Dunstone, had the chance to catch up with Arcadia’s Sir Philip Green, having partied together for Dunstone’s 50th [...]
Finsbury’s 20th birthday bash pulls the stars at Tate Britain November 19, 2014 The cavernous hall of Tate Britain was filled with the chatter of countless City bigwigs last night, as friends and clients of Finsbury headed to Pimlico for the firm’s 20th anniversary party. The likes of easyJet boss Carolyn McCall, RSA’s Stephen Hester, shadow business minister Chuka Umunna, Legal & General boss Nigel Wilson and WPP [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell leads cheers for Harvey Soning’s big night at Claridge’s November 19, 2014 Veteran property legend Harvey Soning, chairman of James Andrew International, stood at the entrance of Claridge’s Ballroom last night, shaking the hands of some of the biggest names in the property world who flocked to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his firm (and his belated 70th birthday). Sir Martin Sorrell (absent from WPP-owned Finsbury’s bash) [...]
Ukip? SNP? WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell warns Conservatives could find any new coalition partner “more difficult” November 19, 2014 WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell has warned of “clouds on the horizon” for the Conservatives, even if they win the 2015 election, noting that a coalition with untested parties such as Ukip and the SNP is likely. Sorrell – who gave the keynote speech at the City A.M. Awards last week – tipped the [...]
Ex-Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf is back but is she looking for a new job yet? November 17, 2014 Having been relieved of her mayoral duties earlier in the month, you might expect Fiona Woolf to be on a long holiday, but she’s trekking to Claridge’s tonight, to speak at executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles’ Leveraging the Capital event. The guest list is like a who’s who of chairmen, with ICAP’s Charles Gregson, [...]