WPP’s Sorrell bullish on ad market future June 24, 2010 ADVERTISING firm WPP’s full-year revenue forecast, raised in April, is likely too pessimistic, the group’s chief executive said, despite warning the UK market would be tougher due to deep government budget cuts. The world’s largest advertising company by sales was overly optimistic last year and therefore is being cautious this year with its forecast for [...]
Corporation tax cut to a new UK low June 22, 2010 CORPORATION tax is to be cut by four per cent to 24 per cent – a rate George Osborne claimed as the lowest of any major Western economy. The chancellor said he wants “a sign to go up, over the British economy, that says: ‘Open for Business.’” The tax for businesses with profits over £1.5m [...]
QUICKIE DIVORCES GET QUICKER WITH HELP OF NEW IPHONE APP June 21, 2010 FIRST we had divorce “gift vouchers”, with a company charging £125 for half an hour with a lawyer; now, it’s divorce apps for your iPhone. Dallas-based company Brainwash already offers one divorce application in its range – a “Cost & Prep” product for just under ten dollars, explaining to would-be divorcees how much it costs [...]
QUICKIE DIVORCES GET QUICKER WITH HELP OF NEW IPHONE APP June 21, 2010 FIRST we had divorce “gift vouchers”, with a company charging £125 for half an hour with a lawyer; now, it’s divorce apps for your iPhone. Dallas-based company Brainwash already offers one divorce application in its range – a “Cost & Prep” product for just under ten dollars, explaining to would-be divorcees how much it costs [...]
Cloudy outlook as ad agencies convene June 21, 2010 Advertisers are likely to strike a cautious note at this week’s Cannes festival, after making a strong start to the year, on concern sovereign debt-fuelled European austerity measures could hamper the rebound. The 57th Cannes Lions event is set to bring together the heads of the world’s top ad firms, including WPP, Publicis and Interpublic, [...]
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON IN THE WORLD OF SPIN June 17, 2010 TO THE Kensington home of City slicker Roland Rudd, the boss of PR firm Finsbury, last night for his annual party, one of the highlights of the summer schmoozing circuit. Grandees of the worlds of business and politics were there in their droves for the event, including WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell; Royal Bank of [...]
MUSIC STARS BID FAREWELL TO UNIVERSAL BOSS LUCIAN GRAINGE June 16, 2010 A rapturous reception on Tuesday evening for Lucian Grainge, the current head of Universal Music’s international division, who is moving to New York next month to become chief executive of the group as a whole. Grainge, on crutches owing to a recent leg injury, stood near the stage area in a room at the Knightsbridge [...]
When process becomes more important than any one person June 16, 2010 FOR better of worse, some businesses become identified with their bosses. Look at Steve Jobs at Apple, whose share-price dropped when rumours about his health circulated last year. Or BP when it was run by Lord Browne, a man whose attitude towards the business he ran is often compared to that of Louis XIV’s towards [...]
When process becomes more important than any one person June 16, 2010 FOR better of worse, some businesses become identified with their bosses. Look at Steve Jobs at Apple, whose share-price dropped when rumours about his health circulated last year. Or BP when it was run by Lord Browne, a man whose attitude towards the business he ran is often compared to that of Louis XIV’s towards [...]
Zurich mulls Irish move for UK life business June 13, 2010 INSURANCE giant Zurich has taken another stride towards making Ireland its overreaching business hub, approaching the Financial Services Authority with a view to moving the domicile of its UK life assurance business over to Dublin. The move comes after Zurich last year brought all its European general insurance businesses under a single Irish “risk-carrying” domicile. [...]