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London – HSBC Holdings Plc today announced the appointment of Georges Elhedery as its next Group Chief Executive, effective September 2. Elhedery, currently the bank’s Chief Financial Officer, will take over the reins from outgoing CEO Noel Quinn. Quinn’s departure, announced in April, marks the end of a nearly five-year tenure guiding the bank through the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical complexities. He will officially step down on April 30, 2025, after a 12-month gardening leave. Elhedery, who joined HSBC in 2023, brings with him extensive experience in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The bank’s Board of Directors expressed confidence in his ability to lead HSBC towards sustainable growth and deliver value to shareholders. A successor to Elhedery’s current CFO role has yet to be na...

London – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its growth projections for the UK in 2024, a positive indicator for the newly elected Labour government. The global financial institution now expects the UK economy to expand by 0.7% this year, up from its previous estimate of 0.5%. The updated forecast comes as a welcome relief after two years of economic stagnation and a brief recession at the end of 2023. Recent data showing GDP growth of 0.4% in May and expected economic boosts from events such as the Euro 2024 football championship and Taylor Swift concerts have contributed to the optimistic outlook. Major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, also expressed confidence in the UK's economic trajectory. These firms raised their growth forecasts, citi...

European cities are on alert: if the negative impacts of mass tourism on residents are not addressed, there is a risk of widespread protests, a UNESCO official warns. “The situation is becoming increasingly tense,” said Peter Debrine, Senior Project Officer for Sustainable Tourism at UNESCO. “Public pressure for change is crucial because these are elected officials who are accountable for the needs of their citizens.” Debrine pointed to Venice, Italy, as a cautionary tale. Protests erupted over environmental and structural damage caused by massive cruise ships sailing through the Grand Canal. The city eventually banned large cruise ships in 2021. A step in the right direction, but not enough While cruise ships are now docking further away, the influx of tourists remains. Venice is expecte...

Luxury fashion house Burberry faces turbulence after a disappointing first quarter. The company's shares fell 11% in early trading on Monday following a series of announcements, including a profit warning, CEO replacement and dividend suspension. Financial outlook bleak Burberry painted a bleak picture of its near-term future. Citing a deepening sales slowdown, the company warned of potential operating losses for the first half of the year and a lower-than-current-expectations full-year profit. The gloomy outlook comes as sales fell significantly across its regions: Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA), Asia Pacific and the Americas, with comparable store sales down 21% in the last three months. Management reorganization and strategic change In response to these challenges, B...