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September 2004
The power of one
Sometimes I think to myself it's amazing the impact that one person can have on a business, good or bad. For instance the Olympics is a business, and look at the impact that Kostas Kenteris has just had on that.
At the other extreme look at what Richard Archer did for the Parkman business featured on our cover this month. The former head of KPMG in Birmingham saw an opportunity and my word he went for it.
Looking back today, what is probably most impressive about the Parkman story is the way the company has brushed aside many of its rivals in a fiercely competitive sector. The outsourcing bandwagon is one that many firms have jumped on in recent years - but many have fallen straight back off it too.
Today the business, now called Mouchel Parkman following its merger with a rival 12 months ago, is in the very safe hands of Richard Cuthbert and he has some grand designs for the company too. Just take education where the government is throwing money at secondary schools. The opportunities are endless. Managing future growth will arguably be Cuthbert's biggest challenge.
Returning to our theme of influential business figures, how about West Bromwich Albion chairman Jeremy Peace who, as we report on page 7, has steered a very difficult ship through extremely choppy waters. The business acumen - and sheer sense - that Peace has brought to the role (thanks to his former City career) is vindicated if you read through Deloitte's just published annual review of football finance. In particular the club comes right at the top for having a healthy wages-to-turnover ratio, a key indicator of financial performance.
While Cuthbert and Peace have already proved their value, one man we profile this month who has much to live up to is Neil Rami who has just been appointed chief executive of Marketing Birmingham. The business of marketing the city is a crucial one and the hope is that Rami, who is widely credited with transforming Newcastle and Gateshead's image, can do the trick here. Time will tell on that one.
Rami would be helped if plans to redevelop New Street Station ever get going. As we report on page 9, some exciting proposals courtesy of famed architect Will Alsop have reached the drawing board and there appears a genuine momentum now building up on all sides which is to be applauded.
All of which shows too that the power of one man, in this case an architect, can truly transform a city too with leading edge design.
However whether the plans for New Street actually happen remains another matter altogether. Sadly as far as Alsop and landmark schemes are concerned the omens aren't great right now - his plans for the 'Fourth Grace' on Liverpool waterfront have just been scrapped. The very same plans also formed part of Liverpool's Capital of Culture bid which defeated Birmingham, and the subsequent scrapping of the scheme has not surprisingly led to more than a few cries of 'dis-Grace' among Birmingham's chattering classes. I wouldn't go quite that far, but they've certainly got a point
Jim Pendrill, editor
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