I used to work in advertising, then set up a board games shop, before deciding to become a journalist. Now (as well as writing) I’m a labourer; I carry bricks, fill up skips and clean up the mess. Is this a downward step, or a succession of them? Quite possibly, but it has its upsides. As a labourer, the work can be varied, physically demanding and even enjoyable, but only when the weather’s good Filling up skips, carrying bags of sand, mixing up ‘muck’ (cement) and painting are all good fun when the weather’s warm and you get a regular supply of tea or coffee. But it’s not so much fun when you find yourself 40 foot above the ground, using a grinder on a chimmney stack (repointing), in a thunderstorm, with no cover and someone’s nicked your ladder. As a labourer, you are essentially a skivvy for all the other trades; bricklayers, sparkies, (electricians), plumbers, painters and decorators etc. You will be expected to…
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Eight-year-old girl comes up with possible cure for cancer while at the dinner table. 'Armed' gunman forces his way into Dutch TV station and demands airtime Murray reaches third Australian final. Boy, eight, died of SCURVY after his parents thought he was 'only suffering from growing pains'. Home-grown fanatics who join ISIS are 'literally w*****s' who watch porn because they can't find girlfriends, blasts Boris Johnson, BULGARIAN CENTRAL BANK The governor of the bank nominated one of his deputies to take over the banking supervision department, following the dismissal of the previous head in the wake of a banking crisis last year. "A proposal for the appointment of Dimitar Kostov was submitted to the parliament on behalf of central bank's governor, Ivan Iskrov," the central bank said in a statement. PENNSYLVANIAN TREASURY Rob McCord, one of the more activist officials to hold the elected position of treasurer, announced his resignation, saying he had achieved his goals. Newly elected Governor Tom Wolf will appoint a successor…
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Briton Steve Easterbrook next in line as Thompson retires after investor frustrations at McDonald’s poor performance. Former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Luís Figo to stand for Fifa presidency. Nick Clegg: I saved Britain from Greece-style debt crisis. Waitrose scraps free tea and coffee for cafe table-hoggers. OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC A unit of the company, Oppenheimer & Co Inc, appointed Doron Barness as the head of trading, U.S. equities. Barness, who worked at WP Asset Management and GoldmanSachs Group Inc before joining Oppenheimer, replaces Peter Feinberg, who is retiring later this month. JPMORGAN CHASE & CO The bank's chairman of China investment banking, Gong Fangxiong, will retire, a source with direct knowledge of the move said on Wednesday, giving no reason for the decision. Gong, also known as Frank Gong, will stay with the firm during a transition period, added the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Two executives at the hedge fund are leaving the firm…
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Europe grabs airline passengers' data in swoop. Kim Jong-un to visit Russia. Apple reports record iPhone sales. 50 London tube stations to be turned into luxury penthouses, homes and tourist attractions. ROYAL BANK OF CANADA RBC Wealth Management, the U.S. brokerage arm of the bank, said it recruited three brokers from UBS Wealth Management Americas UBSG.VX where they managed $200 million in client assets. Separately, the unit also appointed Nicole Vettise institutional portfolio manager in the firm's London-based business development team. BARCLAYS PLC The investment management unit of Barclays, Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, said it appointed Francesco Grosoli head of wealth management Europe. KOMERCNI BANKA Societe Generale's Czech unit said Jiri Sperl would become its chief finance officer, replacing Libor Loefler. FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC The investment management firm announced three appointments to its institutional sales, relationship management and consultant relations team. WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PLC Willis North America, a unit of the insurance broker, appointed Joe Peiser as head of casualty broking. LOOMIS SAYLES…
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....Or Why Headhunting in Germany Might Be Easier Than Elsewhere In my last article, I was highlighting why recruitment in Germany might be harder than in other countries. However, as with all things, the situation is not as clear as it might seem and there are certain interesting characteristics most German candidates possess that might make the recruiting process easier than in other countries. As with all things, it is easiest to stick with clichés in the beginning, because some of them are actually partly true. Two true German clichés that make the whole process a whole lot easier are both punctuality and reliability. If you schedule a call with a German candidate, you can be up to 99% sure they will a) wait for your call and b) answer the phone. As for scheduled Skype conversations and interviews, you can rely on your German candidate to be there no matter what, possibly even ten minutes early. This is a fantastic characteristic for you as…
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Bad news for Miliband as Tories edge ahead with just 100 days to go. Financial radical to lead Greek talks with EU. Litvinenko murder inquiry opens. Argentina's spy agency faces axe. New York City shuts down: 6,500 flights cancelled and 6,000 miles of roads closed as 'biggest ever storm' hits US. Benedict Cumberbatch apologises for 'coloured actors' comment. Server error takes Facebook offline. RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL INC The brokerage said it recruited financial adviser Rob Torrington from Swiss financial services firm UBS AG, where he managed $103 million in client assets. SNOWDEN LANE PARTNERS The financial services firm known for hiring former Bank of America Merrill Lynch brokers, said it recruited another two financial advisers from Merrill's "thundering herd" to open an office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DANISH BANKERS ASSOCIATION The head of the Danish Bankers Association, Jorgen A. Horwitz, will step down at the end of June, the interest group said in a statement. INSIGHT INVESTMENT The European investment manager appointed David Hillier portfolio manager…
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In 2011, the New York University psychologist Gabriele Oettingen published the results of an elegant study, conducted with her colleague, Heather Kappes, in which participants were deprived of water. Some of these parched volunteers were then taken through a guided visualisation exercise, in which they were asked to picture an icy glass of water, the very thing they presumably craved. Afterwards, by measuring everyone’s blood pressure, Oettingen discovered that the exercise had drained people’s energy levels, and made them relax. The implication is startling: picturing an imaginary glass of water might make people less motivated to get up and head to the watercooler or the tap in order to quench their real, non-imaginary thirst. This conclusion is precisely the reverse of one of the central tenets of pop psychology: the idea that picturing the future you desire makes it more likely you’ll attain it. Again and again, in her research, Oettingen has shown that making a fantasy of something you want can make it harder…
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First female CofE bishop consecrated. Demis Roussos, Greek singer of Forever and Ever, dies aged 69. Heavy snow set to hit northern UK. Hoax caller put through to David Cameron was 'high on drink and drugs' at the time. Thieving postman caught by iPad tracking device in Royal Mail sting. 'Baby machine' dumped as she expects 12th child. INSIGHT INVESTMENT The European investment manager appointed David Hillier portfolio manager in its multi-asset strategy team. GATEHOUSE BANK PLC The London-based investment bank appointed David Swan head of real estate investment, effective immediately. ALLIANZ GLOBAL The investment management firm Investors appointed Andrew Curran senior product specialist in its emerging markets debt team. CVC CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD The private equity and investment advisory firm appointed Ivo Lurvink a partner in its Amsterdam office, effective April 1. AHLI UNITED BANK Bahrain's largest lender has accepted the resignation of its chairman, who is stepping down for personal reasons, it said in a bourse statement on Monday. RAINE GROUP The…
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Doomsday Clock nears midnight: Scientists warn we're as close to destruction as we were during the worst days of the Cold War. Leon Brittan, former home secretary, dies aged 75. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies aged 90. Ebola vaccine shipped to Liberia. Homeless moved for pope's visit. Sponsors ditch scandal-hit Fifa. Drunk air passenger who forced Virgin flight to turn around ordered to pay £26,000. Doing the rounds at Davos this week Q/ How many economists does it take to change a lightbulb? A/ None. If it was broken, the market would have fixed it. DO LLP The UK-based accountancy and business advisory firm appointed Fiona Raistrick and Richard Weighell partners in its financial services team. EVERCORE PARTNERS INC The advisory firm appointed Steven Todrys as a senior adviser to its investment banking business. FIFTH STREET FINANCE CORP The financial services company promoted President Todd Owens to chief executive following the resignation of Leonard Tannenbaum. PUMA INVESTMENTS The tax-efficient investment specialist appointed Royal Bank of…
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UK set for plain cigarette packaging before election. 'I still believe': Obama's defiant State of the Union. Iraq war inquiry report delayed until after election. Prince asked to respond under oath. ECB poised to launch €1tn QE. The Sun brings back topless women. HSBC The bank appointed Jan Masek and Oskar von Kretschmann in its mergers and acquisition (M&A) and institutional sales teams in Germany. LONDON & CAPITAL The wealth management firm appointed Guy McGlashan chief operating officer. He joins from Coutts & Co, privately-owned London & Capital said in a statement. AMLIN PLC The British insurer appointed Edward Herrera a senior underwriter at its Miami office. Herrera will report to Louis de Segonzac, who leads the underwriters team at Miami. ACE GROUP The property and casualty insurer has appointed Marcel Van Peenen regional professional indemnity manager for Asia. WELLS FARGO & CO Wells Fargo Advisors, a subsidiary of the U.S. mortgage lender, appointed Seth Barnes managing director-market manager for its northeast Ohio market.
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