CITY WHISPERS: Season of goodwill ends early for Eco Buildings

There was a kerfuffle at tiddler construction group Eco Buildings after it announced the suspension of its executive vice chairman Dominic Redfern.

The firm was tight-lipped about goings on, saying in a one-sentence announcement that Redfern would be suspended ‘pending further investigation’.

Based on chat on some London share forums, Redfern is unlikely to garner much sympathy.

‘Good thing – he served no useful purpose any more… and the company will now save on his needless compensation,’ wrote one user on stock chat site London South East.

‘I had heard on the grapevine that he was a bit clueless and a wet blanket,’ said another.

Others were even more downbeat, with one contributor branding Eco Buildings a ‘Mickey Mouse company’, adding it was now ‘a matter of when it folds not if…’

The season of goodwill appears to have fully worn off – the claws are out.

THG boss in festive social media posts 

Christmas Day for many is a time to relax and unwind, but for THG boss Matt Moulding it was time for another bout of social media posting.

The e-commerce boss took to Instagram on Monday and posted a picture of several younger members of the clan wearing matching Christmas-themed pyjamas, including green trousers adorned with snowflakes.

Perhaps a line of matching PJ sets could be a new addition to the former Hut Group’s wares next year?

Slow performance KO’s Bain & Co Christmas party

As the festive season draws to a close, many will be reminiscing about (or trying to forget) antics at their work Christmas party.

But staff at US consulting giant Bain & Co will have no such problems. 

Whispers hears that the firm’s UK office cancelled its festive shindig due to a slow performance in 2023.

It means employees missed out on what is usually a big-ticket affair, with Bain’s previous Christmas gatherings having been at high-profile locations including the Natural History Museum in South Kensington.

But Bain is not alone, with some businesses choosing to ditch their festive gatherings amid worries of inappropriate behaviour as well as cost pressures.

Still, not very festive, is it?

Berkeley Energia in Spanish mine fight 

Away from the Christmas merriment, it was tough times last week for Berkeley Energia, an energy group trying to build a uranium mine in western Spain.

It has been fighting a local council and an activist group, Plataforma Stop Uranio, which are trying to stop the construction of the Retortillo mine.

The firm was dealt a blow on Wednesday when a Spanish high court overturned previous rulings in its favour, effectively stripping Berkeley of two of its permits. The move sent the shares tumbling to their lowest level since December last year.

But the firm remains unbowed, saying it will take the case to the country’s supreme court.

As they say in Spain, Adelante!