Standard Life's new CEO under wraps

Published on Friday 15 May 2009 20:43

Keith Skeoch can keep his powder dry for the big competition

FOR years before Standard Life held its AGM in Edinburgh, the board would invite the business hacks round for dinner and a few drinks and a briefing from chief executive, Sir Sandy Crombie. But that was before the group announced Crombie was stepping down, opening wide the race for his successor. According to an SL spokeswoman the group is "having a very quiet AGM this year". Usually, there is some fire to fight – policy bonus cuts, secret equity sales, demutualisation – but the big question this time around is "who is it?" Seems that candidates Keith Skeoch and David Nish are saved from having to answer prying questions.

Drinks giant takes on tobacco lord

DISTILLER William Grant has beefed up its board with the appointment of Iain Napier as a non-executive director.

Napier's corporate credentials are impressive, to say the least. Currently chairman of Imperial Tobacco Group and McBride plc, Grant's new man also holds non-exec posts at John Menzies, Collins Stewart and the Molson Coors Brewing Company. He has previously held chief executive positions at Taylor Woodrow and Bass Brewers.

Appointments boost Brodies' partner headcount

BRODIES lays claim to the title "largest law firm headquartered and solely based in Scotland". Its partner headcount, at least, would appear to bear that out.

Three new appointments – two promotions and a lateral hire – take partner numbers at the firm to 64. Across its Edinburgh and Glasgow offices, Brodies employs 470 lawyers and support staff.

Susanne Beveridge and Eric Gilligan, previously associates in the private client and employment departments at Brodies, become partners.

Based at the firm since January 2008, Beveridge is said to have a "proven track record in delivering the full range of private client services".

Gilligan, who joined in 2006, is described as an "expert in employment law", advising financial services groups "as well as a wide range of other industries".

Meanwhile, Martha Quinn joins the Scots practice from Berwin Leighton Paisner's London office. Trained and qualified in Scotland, Quinn is a pensions law specialist with more than ten years' experience.

For these staff, the only way is up

IT HAS been a month of celebrations for staff at EQ Chartered Accountants of Tayside.

It has flown in the face of the credit crunch and promoted a whopping 10 per cent of its workforce. The firm, whose seven lucky employees include husband and wife team Harry and Sonya Locherty, and Doug Rae – who goes from senior manager to principal manager – said the appointments were a record in its history of annual promotions.

BAD DAY

Alistair Darling

The Chancellor of the Exchequer tried to appear unruffled yesterday as he was the butt of jokes about MPs' expenses at a conference on financial services in Edinburgh. Darling give a thin smile when Scottish Widows' Archie Kane remarked it had been a "boring week" for MPs.

GOOD DAY

Ben Drury

CORNELIAN Asset Managers, an Edinburgh-based investment firm, is continuing to expand, hiring Ben Drury from Bank of Scotland's corporate division. Prior to BoS, Drury was with PwC in Edinburgh from 2001 to 2004 before moving to its operation in San Francisco.