News in brief: EasyJet puts Next man in the chair, Europe car sales on road to 20-year low, Rivals shortlisted for DLR contract
Budget airline easyJet has drafted in Next’s John Barton to replace Sir Mike Rake as chairman in a move that should soothe the board’s uneasy relations with founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
Sir Stelios repeatedly clashed with Sir Mike over aircraft orders and executive pay. Barton, who takes over in May, is chairman of High Street giant Next and of Lloyd’s of London insurer Catlin.
Europe car sales on road to 20-year low
A dire month for Peugeot, Ford and Volkswagen saw European new car sales slump 10% in March and put the industry on course for its worst performance in 20 years, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said today.
The market is buckling under record unemployment across the eurozone, and sales sank for the 18th month in a row.
Rivals shortlisted for DLR contract
Stagecoach, Go-Ahead, the French state railway and incumbent firm Serco were today shortlisted to run the Docklands Light Railway from September 2014.
Keolis, which is majority owned by French state rail operator SNCF, put in a joint bid with Amey, which is owned by Spain’s Ferrovial. Go Ahead’s bid is a joint venture with French group Bouygues’ Colas Rail.
