City People

SIR DAVID SCHOLEY of Warburg Dillon Read, who is about to become chairman of Close Brothers, is spearheading a charity swoop on the City tomorrow in aid of Save the Children. Dubbed "K-Day" because the proceeds are going to children in Kosovo, people will be touring City dealing rooms to collect spare foreign currency left over from business trips.

One of the K-Day organisers, Mark Stacpoole, director of corporate finance at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, has agreed to donate a day's salary to the cause. Fellow organiser James Kilpatrick, ex-Morgan Stanley and Flemings, has agreed to match the sum - although no one is saying how much it is.

u

THE AMERICANS introduced the concept of "Dress Down Friday" to a horrified City, and have now followed it up with "Dress Down Summer". Now a British accountancy firm has jumped on the "Summer" bandwagon, but with a typically British list of reservations.

Pannell Kerr Forster, Britain's eighth biggest business advisory firm, is introducing its summer dress code on a voluntary basis today at five of its 25 offices. Kevin Dickinson, human resources director at PKF, is urging staff to don appropriate "business casual" garb through the summer months until 27 August.

But Mr Dickinson warns: "Staff must use their common sense as to what constitutes `business casual'."

For instance, the PKF code specifically does not include "bare midriffs or backs, sportswear including trainers, and shorts or leggings."

And staff must have a formal business suit tucked away at work in case they have to pop out to meet a client. Not quite California yet, then.

u

FORMER associate of Alan Sugar and Tottenham Hotspur chief executive, Claude Littner, is joining Blacks Leisure as a non-executive director, to support Blacks' drive into football-related sportswear.

Mr Littner, 50, was chief executive of Tottenham Hotspur from 1993 to December last year, following a two-and-a-half year stint with Amstrad, the electronics company Mr Sugar founded and used to run.

Blacks is Britain's oldest camping equipment retailer, having been founded in 1853. It is also involved in wholesale sportswear, and has the UK licence to distribute the Fila brand, which provides the kit for West Ham United.

Perhaps a deal with Spurs is in the offing. Apparently Simon Bentley, Blacks' chairman and chief executive, is also a Tottenham fan.

u

SINCE HE is going to be 60 in a few weeks' time, Scott Dobbie was preparing to retire, but his present employers, Deutsche Bank, have persuaded him to stay on - for at least two days each week, as an adviser to the bank's global equities business.

Mr Dobbie has also been appointed chairman of the Securities Institute, succeeding Graham Ross Russell. Mr Dobbie will continue with his work as chairman of CrestCo, the share settlement operation, and as a director of the Securities and Futures Authority (SFA).

Some retirement. These jobs will leave Mr Dobbie with just one day off a week. As for that day: "I'll probably just potter around at home - I like making things in wood and metal, causing trouble, that kind of thing."

Having started way back in 1972 at brokers Wood Mackenzie, Mr Dobbie has headed a number of equities operations, including WoodMac, NatWest Securities and then Bankers Trust.

Although BT has sold up to Deutsche, the Germans still want to retain his advice.

u

WILL Keith Henry, who stepped down as chief executive of National Power two months ago, turn up to Wimbledon today with National Power's acting chief Graham Brown? The pair were invited to the tennis together before Mr Henry's departure. Perhaps the rain will save them from a potentially embarrassing encounter.

u

AN INTERNET news service for accountants has written a poem "Ballad of a Beancounter" to celebrate its 100th issue:

The AccountingWEB Wire is 100 today It continues to grow and to thrive By delighting its readers in every way And ensuring they are kept alive."

Hmm. Don't give up the day job.

u

BANQUE NATIONALE de Paris is determined to turn up the heat on its bid targets - Paribas and Societe Generale. Last week Michel Pebereau, BNP's chairman and chief executive, delivered his press briefings at the Landmark Hotel in London's Marylebone - overlooking Paribas' London head office.