Outlook Eyebrows were raised four years ago when Sir Nigel Rudd took the chair at Invensys, the industrial controls group that agreed to be sold yesterday to Schneider Electric of France. It was too small, too dull and probably didn't have much of an independent future. All that remains true today, except by repairing its finances and plugging its pension deficit, Sir Nigel and his chief executive Wayne Edmunds have made it saleable.

Outlook Now his business is concentrated about as far from Britain as you can get, Tony Hayward is ideally placed to comment on our looming energy crisis. A manifesto published by the former BP boss the other day urged the Government not to turn its back on fossil fuels, to build our own nuclear power stations instead of hoping the French will do it for us and to slash subsidies for on and offshore windpower. Sounds easy.

Outlook When I was a student, spending more time scribbling for the university newspaper than leafing through great literary works, PricewaterhouseCoopers was a godsend. The accounting firm always placed with us the largest advert of any recruiter to plug its milk-round days, money that shored up The Chronicle's finances on more than one occasion.

Outlook Complaints from senior politicians over profiteering, criticisms that bosses treat customers poorly – the predictable reactions to Centrica's results get more and more like those that afflict the Royal Bank of Scotland.

James Ashton reflects on London 2012 a year on

We were told that London 2012 would boost business and revive the UK economy. Has it? James Ashton continues our week-long special investigation of the Olympic legacy

One of BP’s top executives has emerged as a surprise candidate to become the next chairman of British Gas owner Centrica.

Ian Livingston has been lured from helm of BT to become David Cameron's Trade minister, banging the drum for UK exports and inward investment.

Paul Walsh, the mastermind behind the global expansion of the Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker maker Diageo, is expected to take the chair at the caterer Compass as he retires from the drinks giant next year.