Designated drivers
Since Drivers Jonas merged into financial services giant Deloitte a year and a half ago, the firm says it has been generally pleased with the way the name change from DJ to DJD has been managed in the marketplace. However, it seems to have been all too much for a few internet directories and mass mail-out senders, who have taken the “Drivers” part of the firm’s name a bit too literally. DJD managing partner Nick Shepherd told Diary that although he planned to increase the firm’s service offering, chauffering was not part of its plans.
Thawing Libyan assets
Last week, EG revealed that UK assets owned by the besieged Libyan state are starting to be sold off. The building in question is the Holborn Tower, WC1, which Jones Lang LaSalle has been appointed to sell. Diary has now received further information about why the “frozen asset” can be sold. Apparently, the Libyan state company Tekxel has been given a licence to sell its assets, following an application to the Treasury Asset Freezing Unit.
The sale is thought to have been permitted because the building is costing the company more to operate than it is receiving in rent. However, a source close to the deal says Tekxel will not benefit from any proceeds of the sale, which will instead be given back to the people of Libya in due course.
Hammerson gets new toys
Install a young chief executive to lead your business and it is not long until new technology replaces outdated systems. That at least seems to be the case at Hammerson. The REIT, led by David Atkins, 45, has over the past few months been using iPads in all of its executive meetings.
The aim is to expand the new system to board meetings if the trial goes well. Hammerson says the idea behind the über-trendy move is to save on the reams of paper being sent out each month and to make it easy for the board to review documents when travelling not just an excuse for a new toy then?
There’s always time for golf
Diary was lucky enough to get a tour around One Hyde Park last week. Among the usual accessories one would expect in such residences – gym, sauna, swimming pool – we were intrigued to be shown a room with nothing but a golf simulator inside.
Staff showing one hard-pressed businessman around the building were amused to report that, although he had told them he only had 20 minutes to see the whole place, once he spotted the simulator, he made a quick call to his PA and cleared the afternoon of all meetings. The prospective buyer then spent the next five hours playing on a virtual St Andrews. Bingo! United woos the public
FC United, the football team formed in 2005 by Manchester United fans protesting against the sale of their club to the Glazer family, is now facing its own community battle. The club has received Nimby protests over its proposed new 5,000-seater stadium in Moston, Manchester. Objectors argue that the £3.5m stadium will devalue their homes. FC United – nicknamed The Rebels – produced a four-page pamphlet outlining the community benefits from the ground and 40 volunteers delivered 10,000 in the space of seven hours.
While Manchester United may be able to offer global superstars and luxurious corporate hospitality, FC United is hoping to win the locals round with the prospect of bingo nights, dinner dances and lunches for older people.
Property groover lies low
Laurence Beck, a director at privately owned commercial property investment company Aspect Property Group this week found himself as an unlikely internet sensation.
The 42-year-old MRICS father of two posted his own pop video on YouTube to celebrate the bat mitzvah of his daughters September and Tiger Lilly, aged 12 and 13.
Beck dressed up in white jacket and shades as R’n’B star Usher and persuaded his wife Emma to don a red wig and hotpants as his backing singer. However, after news of his professionally-filmed music video appeared in News of the World last Sunday and interest spiralled, Beck quickly took the video down.
Beck was unavailable for comment when Diary tried to contact him. A colleague said: “It was just a bit of fun but it got out of hand.”
