Comeback kings
YORKSHIREMAN James Thorneley has seen some transformation since he arrived at Aberdeen Asset Management 15 years ago.
Back then, Aberdeen was heading for the split-capital trust scandal, and when its shares sank to 64p, one broker said they “might be worth nothing”.
Now it is Europe’s biggest fund manager worth £4.5 billion. Marketing director Mr Thorneley told TBL last week it has 1100 people in the UK and 25 offices round the world.
As he then e-mailed later that day to say actually Aberdeen has 1200 UK employees and 38 offices, perhaps even he finds the turnaround hard to believe.
By royal appointment
SOME of the biggest names from the Scottish business world rubbed shoulders with royalty this week when Prince Edward, HRH The Earl of Essex, performed the official opening duties at accountancy firm RSM’s new Glasgow office.
A business breakfast, jointly held at the Wellington Street office by RSM and trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award charity, attracted such business luminaries as Sir Brian Souter, Lord Haughey and Malcolm Offord.
RSM, formerly Baker Tilly, has supported The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award since 2006.
Cashing out
“How the world is going cashless,” declared the press release as it crashed into the inbox.
We briefly wondered if it was a shout across the bows before Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement and its likely focus on further welfare cuts.
Turns out it was about the growing worldwide trend of people ditching notes and coins in favour of card-based payments.
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