Behold the era of market meddling: Whoever wins the General Election, the age of intervention is upon us April 23, 2015 In the run up to every General Election, the business community voices its concerns over what a Labour government would mean for UK plc. There is the regular letter to The Telegraph, signed by 100 business leaders, in a show of support for the Conservatives. There is much worry, and some hysteria too. Many readers [...]
Tidjane Thiam’s last Prudential results put spotlight on Asia while UK business lags May 6, 2015 Outgoing Prudential boss Tidjane Thiam yesterday said the company was no longer seeking to grow in the US and UK, and would instead focus on expanding in the Asian market. Thiam delivered his last set of results as the head of the insurance group, which detailed the firm’s 22nd consecutive quarter of growth. Sales across [...]
Aviva shares dip as annuity rules hit UK business May 15, 2014 BRITISH insurer Aviva has become the latest to be hit hard by the government’s changes to the UK pensions market, as new business fell 22 per cent in the first quarter of the year to £89m from £114m the year before. This fall was offset by strong figures from elsewhere in Europe, and Asia, where [...]
Prudential boss Tidjane Thiam jumps into Credit Suisse role March 9, 2015 Prudential boss Tidjane Thiam is set to leave the FTSE 100 giant later this year to head Swiss banking titan Credit Suisse, it emerged last night. The surprise exit, which would bring the curtain down on a six-year tenure at the helm of the Pru, is expected to be announced as soon as this morning, [...]
City Moves for 13 January 2015 | Who’s switching jobs January 12, 2015 Grosvenor Fund Management The investment firm has appointed Gaston Brandes as director of capital markets, Europe. He joins from UBS Global Asset Management, where he was executive director of global real estate business development. Brandes has also held roles at Franklin Templeton Investment Services. Brown Rudnick The law firm has appointed Moris Mashali as partner [...]
Pinewood Shepperton takes full control of its film studios for £37m December 4, 2014 Pinewood Shepperton, home of the James Bond film series, has taken full control of its film production site in Shepperton after buying out Aviva from its joint venture for £36.8m. Shepperton Studios Property Partnership, which has existed since 2006, will now fall under the sole ownership of Pinewood. Since 2006, £9.8m has been invested at [...]
City Moves for 16 December 2014 | Who’s switching jobs December 15, 2014 Vail Williams Nina Epstein has been appointed senior management surveyor at the commercial property adviser. She joins from DTZ, where she worked in its property asset management/business development division. Epstein has also held roles at Cushman & Wakefield, LaSalle Investment Management, and CB Hillier Parker. Aviva Investors Mark Connolly has been appointed chief investment officer, [...]
City Moves for 04 March 2015 | Who’s switching jobs March 3, 2015 Towers Watson The professional services firm has announced the appointment of Kate Hollis to its credit research team. She joins from S&P Capital IQ, where she was most recently global head of fixed income/alternatives fund research. Hollis has over 30 years’ experience in the industry, and has also held fixed income sales and trading positions [...]
Housing data shows lending and price rises – London Report March 1, 2015 HOUSING data due this week is likely to show increases in both prices and the number of mortgages being taken out. Bank of England mortgage approval figures, out today, are forecast to show that the number of housing loans rose modestly for a second month running in January after falling for five successive months to [...]
Davos 2015 World Economic Forum: Top execs gather for grand old Duke of York January 22, 2015 It takes a lot to overshadow a quantitative easing programme on the scale of the one announced by the European Central Bank yesterday, but the Duke of York’s private life somehow managed it. Squeezed eight-deep into the Salon Rotary at the Belvedere Hotel, bosses from BP, Citi, Marks & Spencer and Diageo turned up to [...]