The Dastardly Mr Deedes
USUALLY on-the-ball Sir Philip Green sadly didn’t detect the cluelessness of Retail Acquisitions, led by twice-bankrupt ex-racing driver Dominic Chappell, when he sold them ailing BHS last year. City spinners Bell Pottinger clearly had suspicions. The PR firm was hired during the takeover, but after several weeks with Chappell and his goons decided not to pursue its relationship. To be considered toxic by Bell Pottinger is quite a feat. It has represented such charmers as President Assad of Syria’s wife, Asma.
APROPOS yacht-loving Chappell, 49, BHS employees are still reeling from a memo he sent informing them of the company’s demise. The insensitive note patronisingly advised them to ‘keep their heads held high’, ending with the casual refrain: ‘Bonne chance mon ami.’ Fortunately, Chappell was away from BHS’s Marylebone office when it arrived in staff inboxes. Otherwise, workers say there’s a ‘bonne chance’ he wouldn’t have made it out of the building.
WEALTHY Labour peer Lord Myners’ demand for a Government investigation into the BHS collapse risks another of aforementioned Sir Philip’s volcanic eruptions. The pair have ‘previous’. Former business minister Myners, 68, blocked Big Phil’s attempted takeover in 2004 of Mark & Spencer. Myners was ousted the following year. A colleague reports seeing him in his office at the time blubbering like a jilted bride.
SCHRODERS’ outgoing chief executive Michael Dobson, whose move to chairman has caused a stink, is praised by former Cazenove’s chairman (and fellow old Etonian) David Mayhew. Chain-smoking Mayhew, 75 – who thanked Dobson for his ‘glorious contribution’ at Schroders’ AGM yesterday – was embroiled in the Guinness selling scandal in the 1980s. Under-fire ‘Dobbo’, 63, may consider his endorsement unhelpful.
POCKET-SIZED advertising mogul Sir Martin Sorrell was awarded the prestigious St George’s Society medal of honour in New york this week, which recognises exemplary service to British business abroad. Another gong for the WPP boss to add to his knighthood. Would Sorrell, 71, accept elevation to the red benches? ‘Of course. Martin simply adores the sound of his own voice,’ rasps an acquaintance.