The Business Matrix: Thursday 15 August 2013

New defect found in Dreamliner

Boeing’s troubled Dreamliner fleet, which was grounded for four months after an aircraft caught fire, faces further turbulence. Japan’s All Nippon Airways said yesterday it had found defective wiring in a fire-extinguishing system on three of its Dreamliners, prompting rival Japan Airlines to abort a Helsinki-bound flight.

Landlord CLS set for buying spree

The landlord CLS Holdings has seen the value of its property portfolio surge back past £1bn for the first time since 2007 and is looking for more acquisitions. The chief executive, Richard Tice, said the firm was in talks about buying 34 government-occupied properties for about £120m. Net assets rose 6 per cent to 1223.7p in the first half.

Gourlay of Boots off to Walgreens

Alex Gourlay, chief executive of Alliance Boots’s health and beauty division, has been hired by the US phramacy chain Walgreens to lead its customer experience unit. Mr Gourlay, who worked for the British high-street stalwart for 30 years. will become the US firm’s president of customer experience and daily living in October.

AA predicts fuel costs will fall

The price of filling up at petrol forecourts, which has leapt by an average 3p a litre since June, is set to fall before the next bank holiday getaway, the AA predicted yesterday. Its latest fuel prices report showed that fuel costs hit a peak of 137.61p a litre last week but wholesale prices have fallen over the past three weeks.

Top ‘smart grid’ bidders named

Capita, Telefonica of Spain and the UK unit of CGI, formerly Logica, were named yesterday as the preferred bidders for the £2.8bn government contract to run Britain’s new “smart grid” power network. The outsourcing group Capita won the £175m data and communications licence.

Fonterra chief heads for exit

The head of Fonterra’s New Zealand milk products business quit yesterday, less than two weeks after the dairy exporter said some of its products could contain bacteria that cause botulism. Gary Romano stepped down as managing director of NZ Milk Products with immediate effect.