Author: Scott Dylan

Nish Kankiwala will move from CEO to a non-executive role at John Lewis Partnership.Kankiwala’s transition supports a smooth handover to chair Jason Tarry.The CEO position will be dissolved, with Tarry leading the executive team.The move follows significant transformation and strategy refresh within the partnership.Kankiwala emphasised strong cash flow and return to profitability during his tenure.Nish Kankiwala, the Chief Executive Officer of John Lewis Partnership, will transition back to a non-executive role by March 2025. This decision aligns with a strategic move to support smooth leadership changes within the organisation, particularly as Jason Tarry, the incoming chair, prepares to lead both…

Jo Whitfield, CEO of Matalan, departs after 18 impactful months, aiming for a portfolio career.Appointed in March 2023, Whitfield spearheaded Matalan’s transformation, assembling a robust leadership team.Under Whitfield, Matalan significantly improved its financial footing with a 44% reduction in pre-tax losses.Whitfield’s strategic decisions led to enhanced profitability and a revamped operational strategy.Karl-Heinz Holland to become executive chair as Matalan searches for a new CEO.Jo Whitfield, the CEO of Matalan, has stepped down from her role after 18 months, transitioning to a portfolio career. Her tenure, beginning in March 2023, was marked by significant transformational initiatives aimed at stabilising and strengthening…

Nish Kankiwala, CEO of John Lewis Partnership, will step down to a non-executive role in March 2025.Kankiwala’s transition supports new chairman Jason Tarry, who took over from Dame Sharon White.Initially, Kankiwala moved from a non-executive to the CEO role to aid significant transformations.Under his leadership, the company reduced pre-tax losses from £59m to £30m.The Partnership is expected to deliver a significantly improved full-year profit.Nish Kankiwala, who has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of John Lewis Partnership, is set to revert to his former role as a non-executive board member by March 2025. This strategic shift is intended to…

Sosandar announces the opening of its fourth UK store in Cardiff, marking a significant step in its multichannel expansion strategy.The new Cardiff location will be situated in the prominent St David’s shopping centre, enhancing its retail footprint alongside notable fashion brands.This expansion follows recent store launches in Chelmsford, Marlow, and Newcastle’s Metrocentre, indicating a robust growth phase for the retailer.Sosandar’s expansion plans also include venturing into the Irish market with a store in Dublin’s Arnotts department store.The retailer aims to establish up to 50 physical locations, leveraging increased customer engagement in top-tier locations.Sosandar is set to inaugurate its fourth store…

A proposal has been submitted to transform the Kingsway Hotel in Widnes into nine residential apartments.The development plan includes six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom flats, illustrating a diverse housing option.Architectural documents indicate that the building’s exterior will remain unchanged, retaining its current aesthetic.The Kingsway Hotel’s current facilities, including 22 rooms and multiple shared bathrooms, highlight a significant change in function.The decision date for the council’s approval remains pending, according to local reports.The initiative to convert the Kingsway Hotel in Widnes into residential apartments has been formally presented to Halton Borough Council. The proposal is driven by Qadria Properties, a firm…

With the recent appointment of Ian Wilcock, Oxford Metrics strengthens its board of directors.Oxford Metrics, known for its motion capture technology, brings on Wilcock following a notable tenure at Oxford Instruments.Wilcock’s expertise in M&A and business growth is expected to bolster Oxford Metrics’ strategic goals.His predecessor, David Quantrell, will retire soon after over six years of service, marking a transition in leadership.The company anticipates continued growth, building on its recent revenue surge and successful projects.Ian Wilcock has made a notable transition, joining the board of Oxford Metrics immediately after a significant career at Oxford Instruments. At Oxford Instruments, Wilcock held…

The United Kingdom has witnessed a troubling decline in small businesses, with 500,000 closures since 2020.This downturn highlights the country’s challenging economic landscape, calling for urgent reforms and strategies to revitalize entrepreneurship.A Decline Rooted in Self-Employment ChallengesThe number of private sector businesses decreased by 56,000 to 5.5 million by 2024, marking a significant drop from a peak of six million in 2020. This stark reduction is majorly driven by a decline in self-employment and one-person businesses. Notably, the consultant sector has been significantly impacted, with an 11% contraction over five years.This reduction in the consultant sector is largely attributable to…

M&S adopts drones and robot tractors to farm parsnips, aiming to cut carbon emissions and improve crop quality.The company pioneers ‘autonomous field’ farming in the UK, targeting environmental impacts of agriculture.Initial trials conducted in Yorkshire with partnerships to enhance resource efficiency and yield.Innovative technology integrates green fertilisers and reduced diesel consumption for sustainable practices.Project supported by M&S Plan A’s accelerator fund, focusing on innovation and net-zero goals.Marks & Spencer (M&S) has introduced an innovative approach to cultivating parsnips by employing drones and robot tractors. This initiative, announced ahead of the festive season, represents a significant step towards reducing the carbon…

Heinz recently issued an apology regarding a controversial tube advert.The advert, perceived as perpetuating negative stereotypes, sparked social media backlash.Critics highlighted the absence of a black father figure in the advert’s portrayal.The advert is part of Heinz’s campaign to promote new pasta sauce jar sizes.Heinz has vowed to learn and improve from this experience to prevent future incidents.Heinz has publicly apologised following a wave of criticism concerning an advertisement displayed on London Underground services. The advert in question was perceived by many as perpetuating negative stereotypes by depicting a fatherless black family. This portrayal was quickly met with backlash, particularly…

The CEO of Beeks, a UK cloud firm, described the partnership between British banks and US tech giants as ‘bizarre’.Gordon McArthur warned banks about the risks of partnering with potential rivals that desire to enter the financial services market.Beeks observed significant growth, reporting a 27% sales increase and securing major new contracts.The UK competition authority investigates potential anticompetitive behaviour in the cloud sector, with Google criticising Microsoft.Despite ongoing investigations, there is scepticism regarding the outcome due to perceived strong influence from major tech players.Gordon McArthur, CEO of the UK-based cloud service provider Beeks, publicly criticised British banks for what he…