Business gazeteer: Clydesdale goes local with Baillie

The latest part of the plan involves appointing Douglas Baillie as the bank's regional deposits partner for north and central Scotland.

Baillie, who has been with the bank for 26 years, was previously senior partner at Clydesdale's Lanarkshire "financial solutions centre" in East Kilbride.

Deposits with Clydesdale in Scotland rose by 7 per cent in the six months to 31 March, with UK deposits up 15 per cent to 20.1 billion.

Baillie said that deposits made at branches would be reinvested locally.

Standard Life invests in Fraser

FOOTBALL'S transfer window may be nearing its end but the chopping and changing in the world of finance continues to be in full swing.

Standard Life Investment's latest signing is Andrew Fraser, who spent the past five years as director of European credit research at Blackrock.

Fraser – who studied economics at Stirling and trained with Scottish Widows Investment Partnership – takes on the role of "investment director – banking" at SLI, working with the fixed income team and reporting to Craig MacDonald, head of investment grade – corporate bonds. The firm manages 53.3 billion in bonds.

Fiona brings flower power to NKD

PERHAPS we can expect more floral prints creeping into the work of NKD Clothing after the Edinburgh-based design outfit appointed a Laura Ashley fan as its new design manager.

Fiona Fraser confessed: "My mum worked at Laura Ashley and I was fascinated by fabrics she brought home with her. I was always sneaking into my mum's wardrobe to try on her dresses and high-heel shoes."

But Fraser has more formal qualifications too: a degree from Edinburgh College of Art and experience at fashion label Eley Kishimoto, including work on London's fashion week.

Deal sewn up to bring broadband expert to online clothing firm

IT COULD be a marriage made in heaven – a broadband expert joining the board of an online clothing retailer.

Mary Turner, managing director and chief executive of internet service provider Tiscali UK since 2001, has joined fast-growing online store Asos – formerly As Seen On Screen – as a non-exec.

Last month, Car-phone Ware-house's TalkTalk broadband division bought Tiscali UK for 236 million after its struggling Italian owner was forced to sell off the business to tackle its 498m debts.

Lord Alli, the chairman of Asos, said: "Mary has an extensive knowledge of the online sector which, along with her knowledge of the US and European markets, will greatly benefit Asos's international growth strategy."

Asos has already grown rapidly since floating on Aim in October 2001 and now boasts more than five million unique visitors to its online store each month, with 1.2 million shoppers buying clothes within the past six months.

GOOD DAY

Kevin Sims and Derren McRae

PROPERTY consultancy CB Richard Ellis is bringing on board two new faces. Kevin Sims will join CBRE from CWM as a director in its Glasgow office, while in Aberdeen Derren McRae takes on a development role, having joined from Culverwell.

BAD DAY

Nils Smedegaard Andersen

MAERSK'S chief executive yesterday unveiled a record first-half loss and predicted similar results in the firm's second half. The Danish shipping and oil group swung to a net loss of DKr3.02 billion (351m) from a profit of DKr11.98bn a year earlier.