Latest news with #IanClark
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Direct Line bosses stepping down in leadership reshuffle ahead of Aviva tie-up
Top bosses of Direct Line are stepping down in a major leadership reshuffle after overseeing the £3.7 billion sale of the company to insurance giant Aviva, it has been announced. Chief executive Adam Winslow and chief financial officer Jane Poole have both agreed to leave when the takeover completes. It will also announce a new leadership team for Direct Line, with the acquisition expected to be completed in July. The tie-up, which was agreed at the end of last year, will create a significant force in the motor insurance sector, estimated to cover more than a fifth of the total market. Mr Winslow was handed a £7.8 million pay package for last year as the company prepared for the takeover. Much of the pay deal was accounted for by a £5.8 million payment to cover the loss in earnings after joining from Aviva in March 2024, tasked with turning around the business. It means his departure comes having been at the business for just over a year. The takeover caused some concerns among workers at the two firms after Aviva revealed at the end of last year that around 2,300 jobs would be at risk amid cost-cutting efforts in the wake of the deal. It is also being probed by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate if it will lessen competition in the UK – although Aviva recently said it was 'confident' of the watchdog giving the all-clear for the deal. Direct Line also announced a swathe of changes in its boardroom, including bringing in Ian Clark as its chairman.
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
What I'm hearing about Pius Suter's market, Canucks' approach to free agency
The Vancouver Canucks spent Sunday filling out their roster for development camp, and regrouping after the NHL Draft. The club was thrilled with its 2025 draft class, as most teams are in the immediate aftermath. In particular, the Canucks were happy with the outcome from their process. They're confident that first-round pick Braeden Cootes is a special person, with an opportunity to be an organizational fixture for years to come. There is also excitement about second-round selection Aleksei Medvedev, the London Knights netminder who goaltending scout Ian Clark insisted on throughout the scouting process. Advertisement As the attention turns to the upcoming free-agent frenzy, there is some frustration that the Canucks have been unable to meaningfully tend to their significant short-term needs at centre to this point. Vancouver acquired winger Evander Kane last week to add some heaviness and skill to the forward group, but there's still a gaping hole in the middle of the top six. The Canucks had an understanding dating back two months that the unrestricted free agent market was unlikely to yield a high-impact forward. Vancouver's hockey operations leadership had also understood that attempting to fill short-term needs on the trade market would represent improving their team 'the hard way.' Aside from a trio of trades for John Gibson, Charlie Coyle and Noah Dobson, there was surprisingly little major player movement over the weekend. Most of the acquisitions fell into the Jordan Spence, Declan Chisholm or Justin Sourdif tier of minor deals. Like the leaguewide cash crunch in the fall of 2020, or the cap crunch conditions that teams operated in throughout the flat cap era, we're now seeing a talent crunch gum up the NHL marketplace. Simply put, there is more available cap space in the system at the moment than there are high-quality unrestricted free agent players on whom to spend it. Teams have enough cap flexibility that, to this point, there's limited external pressure to proactively fix roster problems or to trade NHL-level contributors for cap-neutral asset capital like draft picks or prospects. And given how much market desirability is impacting contractual outcomes, every team is scrambling to identify the players open to being part of their organization. Everyone is terrified of falling too deep into a Chicago or San Jose-like scorched-earth rebuild. As I worked the phones on Sunday to try to get a sense of where the Canucks stood ahead of July 1, the word of the day from the organization was 'caution.' Advertisement The Canucks need to be careful in navigating their way through what remains of the so-called silly season, and balancing their short-term goals with the long-term reality of a franchise that's both in transition and under significant pressure to build momentum next season. Some of the players who will be available could help Vancouver now, but they're unlikely to be especially efficient additions. As much as the Canucks want to improve their roster and try to win now, there's an understanding that overpaying for short-term upgrades could inhibit their ability to make a more impactful move down the line, when the leverage is greater, and the options more impactful. This is the time of year, after all, when mistakes get made. Conscious of that, and the significant pressure the organization is feeling to improve, the Canucks are going to spend the next 48 hours or so trying to be selective. It's fair to be skeptical. It's been well over a decade, after all, since anybody won a cent betting on the Canucks being selective with the long view in mind. Whether they're intent on managing expectations locally, or more actively recalibrating their short-term goals in light of their options and the sky high prices in free agency and on the trade market, that's the balance the Canucks are attempting to judiciously weigh as the clock ticks down toward July 1. Every time I ask my industry contacts about pending unrestricted free agent Pius Suter and what his market value could look like, the number gets a little bit higher. It's like the opposite of Jose Canseco's 40 time. What was $3.2 million ('he could double his salary') at the deadline, rather quickly became '$4 million or more' after Suter's 'ka-ching' goal-scoring run late in the season. Now, over the past two weeks, the conversation has morphed from 'maybe $4.5 million with term,' climbing all the way to between $4.5 million and $5 million, which is the figure an executive on Sunday evening suggested that Suter could realistically land on the open market. And that was before the new Morgan Geekie comparable. Advertisement Clearly, the market has broken heavily in Suter's favour. Not only have centres continued to demand a significant premium on the trade market and at the draft table, but most of the older pivots with name-brand value — Matt Duchene, Claude Giroux, John Tavares, Brock Nelson and Sam Bennett — have already extended with their teams. Outside of Mikael Granlund, Suter is probably the most credible top-six centre option still unsigned as July 1 approaches. It's also worth noting that Suter scored more goals this season (25) than Granlund did (22). The Canucks have remained in contact with Suter's camp throughout this process, but the two sides haven't been grinding away to find common ground. Given Vancouver's inability to land a significant centre upgrade on the trade market during draft weekend, however, Monday is shaping up to be a key day in determining whether or not Suter will ultimately make it to market this week. For the Canucks, it's last call on Suter, and I wouldn't be surprised if Vancouver took one final run at retaining the versatile, productive forward, with an understanding that he's surely gone if he makes it to market on Tuesday. The Canucks have always been big fans of Suter as a player and person. He's earned a significant raise and is coming off a career year. The conversation really centres on that. Was it just a career year, a one-off, or a new level of performance that Suter is likely to be able to sustain? How the Canucks ultimately decide to answer that question will determine their willingness to meet Suter's price at the 11th hour. If I were to handicap this one, it seems more likely than not that Suter will go to market. The door remains open just a crack, however, and I do get the sense that Vancouver will engage Suter's camp one last time on Monday before the door shuts for good. Advertisement By 2 p.m. PT, the Canucks will have to tender qualifying offers to their 10 pending restricted free agents to maintain their right of first refusal. We've already reported that goaltender Nikita Tolopilo will receive a qualifying offer, and there's a variety of higher-profile restricted players like Aatu Räty, Max Sasson and Arshdeep Bains who are obvious tap-ins to be qualified before the deadline. However, there are a couple of organizational depth players that the Canucks have wrestled with whether or not to qualify ahead of the deadline. I think we can take that as an indication that at least some of the 10 pending RFAs won't be qualified. Players who aren't qualified will become UFAs when the market opens on Tuesday. There's a tricky balance that the Canucks are going to try to maintain in the days ahead. This is a club that wants to improve short term, of course, they're the Canucks. I have begun to get the sense, though, in talking through offseason planning with team sources, that there's also an increasing internal recognition that this team is in transition. A realization that, perhaps, exercising some patience may be required. That recognition is in obvious tension with the fact that there is a lot of pressure, both in the Vancouver market and structurally on the Canucks, to find a way to take a big swing and connect on landing a difference-maker to improve this team. To excite this market. To convince Quinn Hughes to stay. But the Canucks want to be mindful of not doing something just to do something. Especially if that 'something' costs them an amount or an asset that they would view as reckless. Based on what team sources told The Athletic on Sunday, there appear to be moves that the Canucks could make to improve this team short-term. However, the most worthwhile among those options could cost them a key asset like their 2026 first-round pick, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Tom Willander or defender Elias Pettersson. Advertisement That's not a price that Vancouver has been willing to pay. I even get the sense that it's a price the Canucks are unlikely to be willing to pay, period, unless the return is genuinely transformative. We'll have to see if the significant pressure and desire to improve wins out over the rational plan to be disciplined. For what it's worth, the Canucks do expect the trade market to shake loose somewhat in the days and weeks ahead, especially as some teams move money around to facilitate major acquisitions. That won't necessarily apply to every team, but management appears to be keeping close tabs on these types of situations in case a scenario presents itself, one that would permit the Canucks to land a short-term, contributing player at a more manageable acquisition price. In the event, which has been more probable than not for weeks, that both Suter and Brock Boeser walk as unrestricted free agents on Tuesday, I'm hearing that the Canucks will be shopping for a centre when the market opens. The Canucks would need to send cap commitments out the door to really get into the bidding on Granlund. While I believe that Vancouver would have some interest in the player, all things being equal, breaking the bank to add him doesn't seem to be an especially probable outcome. Even with a player like Jack Roslovic, a slick-skating, right-handed forward who can play centre and who the Canucks have kicked the tires on in the past, I expect that the market will price out their interest. The Canucks, it seems, are prepared to roll with Filip Chytil and Räty as top-nine centres to open next season, but I'd also look for the team to be linked to names like Radek Faksa. Even assuming Vancouver is able to stay disciplined and focus on the long view, the Canucks will still look to strengthen down the middle this week. They just may be looking somewhat further down their lineup than they had hoped to. (Photo of Pius Suter: Simon Fearn / Imagn Images)
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Residents fear water leak leaves North Walsham road 'dangerous'
A rise in the number of cars using a diversion route is being blamed for increasing damage to the road road works have been taking place in North Walsham, Norfolk, since January, reorganising how traffic flows through - and into - the town. Much more traffic has been directed down Cromer Road which has already been damaged by a water leak. Norfolk County Council said it had a plan to grant Anglian Water the road closure it needed to make the repairs in the coming week. The roadworks began in January and were expected to be completed by the end of Clark lives close to the Cromer Road in North Walsham and said heavy vehicles, including lorries and diggers, taking diversions had damaged the surface and created a water filled dip in the Clark said he believed leaving the road unrepaired was "just dangerous". "Anglian Water comes and has a look and puts up a sign saying uneven surface," he said."But with the extra traffic coming down this road, because the Norwich Road is closed, the dip is now enormous. "It's enough to take out the bottom of your car." Anglian Water said the cause of the problem was most likely a leaking pipe below the road. They said they had not yet been granted permission to close Cromer Road to carry out repairs. Norfolk County Council (NCC) said permission for repairs had not been given because of ongoing work to the traffic lights on the said: "We haven't been able to allow them (Anglian Water) in to repair as the diversion route that would be needed is already closed due to the traffic light upgrades. "If we had let them come in to (do the) repair, North Walsham would be at a standstill."NCC confirmed that at soon as the work to the A149 was completed, expected by 23 June, the repair to Cromer Road would be carried out. Previously concerns have been raised about complicated diversion routes, leading drivers to use rat-runs down residential streets. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
04-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
From Dahlias to Gladioli, the most beautiful summer bulbs to plant now
Spring is the time for daffodils and crocuses, with the flowers offering some light, colourful relief following the winter months. But don't forget that if you want some glorious summer bulbs you'll need to start planting them now. Although summer bulbs are available in garden centres from the beginning of the year, the ideal time for planting them is between March and May. This is because they thrive as the soil begins to warm up in these less chilly months. They will then flowering from June through to autumn, depending on what you pick. 'Popular summer flowering bulbs include dahlia, gladioli, begonia and lilies but there are also some lesser-known gems such as liatris, nerines and eucomis which are worth considering,' says Ian Clark, marketing manager at Taylors Bulbs. Here are just a few worth considering. Most gladioli are reasonably tall, flowering at around 100cm, making them perfect for further back in the border and great for cut flowers. 'However, there are several short-stemmed varieties such as 'Michelle' and 'Purple Art' which will flower at 60-70cm, opening up the possibility of including them in pots or further forward in the border,' says Clark. Some gardeners feature gladioli in their allotment planting to give them a crop of cut flowers and by staggering planting from March through until July, you can have a long succession of cut flowers. They can survive outside in mild areas providing the soil is well drained and they are given a mulch but there are also hardy types such as the nanus varieties 'Carine' and 'Las Vegas'. Dahlias Originating from Mexico, where the Aztecs grew them for food as well as decoration, dahlias are among the most popular late summer-flowering bulb as they come in so many colours, heights and flower variations, from pompom and collarette to cactus and anemone-flowered. Look out for dark bronze foliage varieties such as the ever-popular 'Bishop of Llandaff', giant flowered varieties such as 'Café au Lait' with its 22cm diameter blooms and Fimbriata frilly cactus types. Dahlias must be planted after the risk of frost has passed and it's important to protect from slugs and snails as they love the leaves, says Clark. 'You can give dahlias a head start by potting them up and growing in a frost-free greenhouse, porch or conservatory in March/April then planting outside in their final position once the risk of frost has gone.' Begonias Ideal for pots or hanging baskets, begonias provide colour over a long flowering period but are best started off in the warm (around 15°C) in mid to late March, by placing the tubers dimple side up (the indented top of the bulb where the new sprouts will form) on the surface of your compost. Once shoots have developed in mid to late April, they can be planted up into containers or baskets but don't put them outside until the risk of frost has gone, he advises. They flower all summer until the first frost and prefer dappled shade and well-draining soil to avoid leaf burn and waterlogging. Look for key varieties including tuberous begonias, known for their long flowering season and often grown as annuals; fibrous-rooted begonias, typically dwarf varieties with smaller flowers, perfect for containers and also usually treated as annuals; and foliage begonias, prized for their colourful and patterned leaves, suitable for borders or as houseplants and requiring similar conditions to other begonias, says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres. If you want to keep your tubers over the winter for next year, wait until the first light frosts of autumn have killed off the top growth then remove the tubers from the soil and allow them to dry off for a few days. Remove all of the top growth and store in dry compost in a cool and frost-free place. These showy blooms famed for their rich fragrance are great as cut flowers. Good bets include skyscraper types such as 'Anastasia' which are prolific flowering, producing 25-30 fragrant flowers from a single bulb and growing up to 2.5 metres after a couple of years, Clark says. You can buy pollen-free lilies which are good for allergy sufferers or those who want to avoid staining their clothes or furniture, but they're not so good for pollinating insects. Nerines Nerines are fantastic for adding late summer/early autumn colour to borders. They like a sunny position with free-draining soil, and they can also be grown in containers as they thrive when the clumps become congested. Eucomis Originating from South Africa, these bulbs are superb for growing in pots and add a touch of exotic to the patio. They are attractive to pollinators, but they do need protection from frost in winter as they are not winter hardy. Hymenocallis Also known as the Peruvian Daffodil, these exotic-looking flowers are fragrant and are great for growing in pots on a sunny patio. White and yellow forms are available with flowers appearing in mid-June to July. Liatris Liatris are great for borders where their perennial nature makes them ideal for cut flowers. Liatris are available in purple and white forms, flowering in July and August. By pairing varieties together, it's possible to make stunning combinations in both borders and pots, says Clark. 'Dahlias work particularly well for this, for example the contrasting textures of Dahlia 'Totally Tangerine' and 'Dahlia French Cancan' (pictured), but you can also pair different bulbs such as dahlia and liatris or dahlias with lilies to make beautiful borders or cut flower creations. 'It doesn't have to be just the flowers that create great combinations. The dark foliage of Canna 'Tropicanna' paired with hot-coloured crocosmia, for example, makes for a stunning border.'
The Independent
04-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
The most beautiful summer bulbs to plant now
While you are enjoying the best of spring daffodils and crocuses, don't forget that if you want some glorious summer bulbs you'll need to start planting them now. Summer flowering bulbs are available in garden centres from the beginning of the year, but typically they are ideal for planting between March and May as the soil begins to warm up, with flowering times from June through to autumn depending on your choices. 'Popular summer flowering bulbs include dahlia, gladioli, begonia and lilies but there are also some lesser-known gems such as liatris, nerines and eucomis which are worth considering,' says Ian Clark, marketing manager at Taylors Bulbs. Here are just a few worth considering. Gladioli Most gladioli are reasonably tall, flowering at around 100cm, making them perfect for further back in the border and great for cut flowers. 'However, there are several short-stemmed varieties such as 'Michelle' and 'Purple Art' which will flower at 60-70cm, opening up the possibility of including them in pots or further forward in the border,' says Clark. Some gardeners feature gladioli in their allotment planting to give them a crop of cut flowers and by staggering planting from March through until July, you can have a long succession of cut flowers. They can survive outside in mild areas providing the soil is well drained and they are given a mulch but there are also hardy types such as the nanus varieties 'Carine' and 'Las Vegas'. Dahlias Originating from Mexico, where the Aztecs grew them for food as well as decoration, dahlias are among the most popular late summer-flowering bulb as they come in so many colours, heights and flower variations, from pompom and collarette to cactus and anemone-flowered. Look out for dark bronze foliage varieties such as the ever-popular 'Bishop of Llandaff', giant flowered varieties such as 'Café au Lait' with its 22cm diameter blooms and Fimbriata frilly cactus types. Dahlias must be planted after the risk of frost has passed and it's important to protect from slugs and snails as they love the leaves, says Clark. 'You can give dahlias a head start by potting them up and growing in a frost-free greenhouse, porch or conservatory in March/April then planting outside in their final position once the risk of frost has gone.' Begonias Ideal for pots or hanging baskets, begonias provide colour over a long flowering period but are best started off in the warm (around 15°C) in mid to late March, by placing the tubers dimple side up (the indented top of the bulb where the new sprouts will form) on the surface of your compost. Once shoots have developed in mid to late April, they can be planted up into containers or baskets but don't put them outside until the risk of frost has gone, he advises. They flower all summer until the first frost and prefer dappled shade and well-draining soil to avoid leaf burn and waterlogging. Look for key varieties including tuberous begonias, known for their long flowering season and often grown as annuals; fibrous-rooted begonias, typically dwarf varieties with smaller flowers, perfect for containers and also usually treated as annuals; and foliage begonias, prized for their colourful and patterned leaves, suitable for borders or as houseplants and requiring similar conditions to other begonias, says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres. If you want to keep your tubers over the winter for next year, wait until the first light frosts of autumn have killed off the top growth then remove the tubers from the soil and allow them to dry off for a few days. Remove all of the top growth and store in dry compost in a cool and frost-free place. Lilies These showy blooms famed for their rich fragrance are great as cut flowers. Good bets include skyscraper types such as 'Anastasia' which are prolific flowering, producing 25-30 fragrant flowers from a single bulb and growing up to 2.5 metres after a couple of years, Clark says. You can buy pollen-free lilies which are good for allergy sufferers or those who want to avoid staining their clothes or furniture, but they're not so good for pollinating insects. Nerines Nerines are fantastic for adding late summer/early autumn colour to borders. They like a sunny position with free-draining soil, and they can also be grown in containers as they thrive when the clumps become congested. Originating from South Africa, these bulbs are superb for growing in pots and add a touch of exotic to the patio. They are attractive to pollinators, but they do need protection from frost in winter as they are not winter hardy. Hymenocallis Also known as the Peruvian Daffodil, these exotic-looking flowers are fragrant and are great for growing in pots on a sunny patio. White and yellow forms are available with flowers appearing in mid-June to July. Liatris Liatris are great for borders where their perennial nature makes them ideal for cut flowers. Liatris are available in purple and white forms, flowering in July and August. Winning combinations By pairing varieties together, it's possible to make stunning combinations in both borders and pots, says Clark. 'Dahlias work particularly well for this, for example the contrasting textures of Dahlia 'Totally Tangerine' and 'Dahlia French Cancan' (pictured), but you can also pair different bulbs such as dahlia and liatris or dahlias with lilies to make beautiful borders or cut flower creations. 'It doesn't have to be just the flowers that create great combinations. The dark foliage of Canna 'Tropicanna' paired with hot-coloured crocosmia, for example, makes for a stunning border.'
