On the money with Damian Wild

On the money with Damian Wild

'Only Steve Redgrave in recent history has stuck his oar in more than Jon Moulton'

A colleague of some standing has never forgiven me for a minor misjudgment
committed several years ago.

Step back in time, if you will, to November 2000. The preceding months had
seen business news dominated by the unwinding of Rover. Just weeks previously
the last Mini had trundled off the Longbridge production line.

When it came to drawing up the shortlist for that’s year’s Accountancy Age
Personality of the Year Award, there were two names that simply had to be on it:
Jon Moulton, the VC then negotiating to buy the stricken car company from BMW,
and John Millett, FD of Rover’s new owners.

Both attended that month’s awards dinner at the Natural History Museum and in
my infinite wisdom I decided to sit said colleague between Moulton and Millett.
On
that table at least, it was a somewhat frosty evening. He describes his role as
unofficial peacekeeper, like wearing a blue helmet in Baghdad. You can see why
his veins still pop whenever Rover is mentioned. Or our awards. Or even the
Natural History Museum.

Recent events reminded me of that awkward episode. Fortunately this year’s
personality shortlist was done and dusted before I could sit one of our
journalists between, say, the FDs of HBOS and a short-selling hedge fund.

Sometimes it feels that only Steve Redgrave in recent history has stuck his
oar in more than Jon Moulton. From Rover to the current market turmoil to
accounting standards, Moulton has never been backwards in coming forwards.

And he’s still at it, telling Accountancy Age last week that current
standard setters are ‘maniacs’. That may be a little strong. But credit to
Mouton; I’m glad someone’s shouting.

Damian Wild is editor in chief of Accountancy Age and blogs at
accountancymatters.accountancyage.com

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata
Professional Services

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine
Accounting Firms

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021
Making Tax Digital

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource