01/06/2014
Analysis of the big business stories making the headlines. Declan Curry is joined by Alex Baldock, chief executive of Shop Direct - the home of Littlewoods.com and Very.co.uk.
Last on
Alex Baldock, chief executive, Shop Direct
BeforeÌýjoining Shop Direct as chief executive in September 2012, Alex was managing director at asset finance company Lombard. He joined Lombard in 2008 from Barclays, where he held senior roles in both corporate and commercial banking. Before that, he was a management consultant.
ÌýÌý
Shop Direct has sales of £1.7 billion throughÌýbrands includingÌýVery.co.uk and Littlewoods.com. More than 80% of itsÌýsales are now online, with around 40% of these from mobile devices.Ìý
Ìý
Alex was educated at Oxford University, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management and INSEAD’s Challenge of Leadership programmes.
Even Heggernes, country manager UK & Ireland, Airbnb
Even HeggernesÌýis the country manager in the UK & Ireland for Airbnb, theÌýtravel rentals company.
Ìý
He was previously head of salesÌýand business development for Airbnb Nordics.
Emma Jones, founder, Enterprise Nation
Following a degree in Law and Japanese, Emma joined international accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, where she set up the firm's Inward Investment practice that attracted overseas companies to locate in the UK.
Ìý
In 2000, Emma left to start her first business, Techlocate. After 15 months the company was successfully sold to Tenon plc. The experience of starting, growing and selling a business from home gave Emma the idea for Enterprise Nation, which she launched in 2006. It has since expanded to become a small business community of over 75,000 people who access content, events and funding - online, in print and in person.
PY Gerbeau
In 1991, he joined EuroDisney, where he rose to vice-president and is credited with helping to turn round the business.
Ìý
In February 2000 he was appointed chief executive of the Millennium Dome in London. He was brought in to turn around the fortunes ofÌýthe attraction struggling in the face of major financial problems and negative publicity.
Ìý
Following the closure of the Millennium Exhibition at the end of 2000, Gerbeau became chief executive of X-Leisure, operator of the Xscape centres and other leisure facilities. He sold a majority stake in 2013 to property giant Land Securities for £112 million.
Broadcast
- Sun 1 Jun 2014 19:00Â鶹Éç Radio 5 Live