The executive in charge of marketing and communications during the ill-starred flotation of Aston Martin Holdings (AML) has left the luxury carmaker. Days after Aston revealed falling deliveries, deepening losses and spiralling debt, it was announced that Simon Sproule, its head of marketing and public relations, had left to become chief communications officer at Fiat Chrysler. He is yet to have been replaced at Aston Martin Lagonda. With the company valued at more than £1 billion, reports have linked the Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, 60, Geely, the Chinese carmaker and Lotus owner, and Catl, the Chinese battery maker, as potential investors.
One of America’s oldest investment funds has quietly built a near one-fifth stake in Micro Focus International (MCRO). Dodge & Cox, which has more than $300 billion under management, has amassed a 17% stake in the embattled British company. It first arrived on the Micro Focus shareholder register after its ill-fated takeover of Hewlett-Packard’s software division in 2017. The US fund giant has topped up its holding several times since. It comes as the company prepares to update shareholders on its plans to revive its fortunes early next month.
