City Spy: Boss Andrew Monk’s trip to South Africa has VSA Capital staff guessing
Staff at stockbroker VSA Capital are starting to wonder just what their boss, Andrew Monk, is really up to on his “business trip” to South Africa.
A note to clients suggests his sojourns to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek “sound a bit like a wine tour to us”.
Apparently the Franschhoek trip is home to the Kusasa Project, a charity for underprivileged kids, of which Monk is a trustee. So what about Stellenbosch?
The joke's on Oxford Properties
Sniggers that Oxford Properties, the Cheesegrater’s developer, is moving into its own tower.
“It’s cheating. Can’t they fill it with other people?”
Spy hears that Oxford isn’t getting any “mates’ rates” discount on the rent...
He wasn’t shirty, he was bright as a button
Here's a good one.
A Square Mile veteran tells of a young lad years ago who turned up on a trading desk with the big beasts for his first week.
One of the old lags turns around to him, gives him a £20 note and says: “Three teas and get something for yourself.”
Off trots the new boy and comes back 20 minutes later with the teas, a handful of change, and a bag.
“Where’s the rest of my change?” demands the gnarled veteran.
“That’s it,” the new boy says. “You said get something for yourself, so I nipped into TM Lewin and got myself a shirt.”
As our man says: “They don’t make ’em like that any more.”
Heathrow hopes Gatwick is a gusher
A quick Google Maps search of the Horse Hill well, the so-called Gatwick Gusher that was hailed as Britain’s answer to Dallas, takes Spy to the centre of Gatwick Airport instead of the correct location just up the road from it.
Spy imagines Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye would be all for turning rival Gatwick into an oilfield out of the Wild West and giving the extra runway to Heathrow.
What’s that famous Western line?
“This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.”
Hamish swaps the great outdoors for home comforts
Stirrings at upmarket furniture store group Heal’s as Spy hears the 200-year-old retailer has snared a new chief executive; Hamish Mansbridge will join next month from outdoors retailer Snow+Rock.
His new gig will largely be taking on responsibility from chairman Will Hobhouse, who has been running the show for the last three years.
Heal’s is part of the Weston family’s empire – which includes Fortnum & Mason – and Hobhouse is off to develop new ideas for the rest of the group.
Expect snazzier seating in the café at the Queen’s grocer.
