Chief | Common News Update

Apr112021 by adminNo Comments

Darktrace float to crystallise £20m stake for chief Gustafsson

Business

Cyber security company Darktrace will on Monday fire the starting gun on a £3bn London flotation - crystallising a stake worth tens of millions of pounds for its 38-year-old chief executive.Sky News has learnt that Darktrace's board plans to issue an expected "intention to float" announcement before the stock market opens on Monday morning. The listing will provide another acid test of investors' appetite to embrace technology company flotations in London, following the disastrous debut of Deliveroo, the food delivery app, earlier this month.Darktrace's float is likely to value the company at between £2.5bn and £3bn, with chief executive Poppy Gustafsson's shareholding likely to be valued in the region of £20m.The filing of its registration documents will mean that Darktrace's shares will ...

Apr42021 by adminNo Comments

Former banking lobby chief Jones joins shared branches start-up OneBanks

Business

The former boss of Britain’s most influential financial lobbying group is throwing his weight behind the trial of a service that it wants to become a national solution to the disappearance of thousands of bank branches across Britain.Sky News has learnt that Stephen Jones, who ran UK Finance until last year, has joined OneBanks as its vice-chairman. The start-up, which is piloting a shared branch kiosk in a Co-op store Denny, near Falkirk, Scotland, plans to raise millions of pounds in a Series-A fundraising during the summer, according to insiders.It has already secured capital from backers including Rupert Pennant-Rea, former deputy governor of the Bank of England, and Baroness Bottomley, the former Conservative cabinet minister.OneBanks has been set up to provide an answer to one of the...

Mar212021 by adminNo Comments

Bill Nelson: Former astronaut and senator nominated as Nasa chief

Science

JEFF MITCHELLBill Nelson, a US senator and one-time astronaut, has been nominated to be the next head of Nasa.The 78-year-old is seen as a moderate Democrat, and his nomination by President Joe Biden on Friday drew bipartisan praise.He will need to be confirmed in the Senate before he can take up the role.Mr Nelson said he was "honoured" to be picked to lead the US space agency, adding that he would "help lead Nasa into an exciting future".In a statement, the White House said he was "known as the go-to senator for our nation's space programme" for many years. "Almost every piece of space and science law has had his imprint," it said.The Republican Senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, said: "I cannot think of anyone better to lead Nasa."Test success for world's most powerful rocketArtemis: To...

Mar112021 by adminNo Comments

Society of Editors chief resigns after defending UK press over Meghan row

Entertainment

The executive director of the Society of Editors has resigned after the body came under fire for comments about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's accusations of racism.Ian Murray said he would step down from his role so the organisation can "rebuild its reputation". The society had issued a strongly-worded statement following Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey in which it said it was "not acceptable" for the couple to make claims of racism in the press "without supporting evidence".And it went on to say the UK press was not racist. Image: Ian Murray: 'I accept the society could have been much clearer in its condemnation of bigotry' But since then, the body has been heavily criticised. ...

Mar102021 by adminNo Comments

Matteo Guendouzi backed to become ‘monster midfielder’ as Arsenal’s former transfer chief questions Mikel Arteta over French outcast and Lucas Torreira loans

Sports

Arsenal’s former head of recruitment Sven Mislintat has defended the transfers he signed off at the Premier League club, and has questioned Mikel Arteta over his handling of one of them – Matteo Guendouzi. In a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic, the ex-Gunners chief – now sporting director at VfB Stuttgart – spoke about the young Frenchman, who was sent out on loan to Hertha Berlin after falling out of Arteta’s good books. Getty Images - Getty Guendouzi appears to no longer have a future at Arsenal And Mislintat said he’d ‘love’ to discuss that decision with the Arsenal manager, as he backed Guendouzi and said he can become a ‘monster midfielder’. He also questioned the call to send Lucas Torreira out on loan to Atletico Madrid, too, insi...