Who's going to win the final of the Next (Xetra: 779551 - news) factor? The two contenders are spinner Alistair MacKinnon-Musson and communications agency Hudson Sandler.
Last September MacKinnon-Musson was booted out of Hudson Sandler.
Feeling (Taiwan OTC: 3291.TWO - news) pretty miffed, he put in a £150,000 claim for breach of contract.
The flack also played his trump card. Hudson Sandler’s treasured account, Next for whom Geri Halliwell, pictured, has just launched a Union Flag collection was down to MacKinnon (BSE: MACKINN.BO - news) -Musson’s long working relationship with the retailer’s chief executive, Lord Wolfson. Despite legal action, both parties have continued to represent the store and both have been paid for joint work on the November (Stuttgart: A0Z24E - news) trading update.
In fact, MacKinnon-Musson is still listed as a Hudson Sandler consultant on the Next website and Hudson Sandler has just sent out invitations for the full-year results in March. Sources say that the two sides could be creeping towards a settlement and that, even if Hudson Sandler does lose the account, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Some might suggest that they would say that, wouldn’t they?
= Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) staffer to light up New York (Frankfurt: A0DKRK - news) =
Telephonist by day, burlesque dancer by night.
As reported last week, Katrina Darling, the second cousin once removed to the Duchess of Cambridge (SES: E2:J91U.SI - news) , is taking her considerable talents at burlesque dancing to America.
On March 13, Kate Middleton's 21-year-old relative will perform her routine, including God Save the Queen, in a trendy club in New York.
But the dancer will need to take a few days off from her nine-to-five job.
Darling works for Barclays Wealth dealing with high net worth individuals over the phone and claims the bank has been very supportive.
A spokeswoman for Barclays Wealth confirms: "Katrina is in a telephony based role for our premier customers."
But she adds nervously: "Is it crucial to put in that she works for Barclays, as the story isn't about Barclays?" OK, we'll have a think about that.
= Hester backs rugby deal as a good fit =
As we revealed earlier this month, RBS (LSE: RBS.L - news) is turning to its sponsorship of Six (SNP: ^SIXY - news) Nations and whether to renew the multi-million contract which comes up in 2013. One big fan of the deal appears to be Stephen Hester, RBS CEO.
Unlike RBS's former Formula 1 sponsorship which appeared to be more about Fred Goodwin's ego than sensible marketing Hester sees rugby as a good fit for the bank and appealing to customers. He'll leave the decision to his marketing bods, of course, but his enthusiasm shows that a renewal is more likely than not.
= Duck out of water =
More at home in the Pugin-designed surroundings of Parliament, last Tuesday night John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, swapped his more usual party politics for a very different sort of party. He was seen sipping cocktails and rubbing shoulders with rappers Will.i.am who was DJing and Dizzee Rascal at Universal’s uber-hip Brits after-show party at Tate Modern.
Well, I suppose it beats the House of Commons bar.
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