Business Diary: May 22

Now, however, the spot where it stood for more than 20 years has been recognised with a commemorative plaque.

Steve Drinkwater, finance director of the Keighley-based brewery, said: “Geoff was renowned throughout the brewery for having an unbelievably untidy desk but remarkably, among the chaos, he always seemed to be able to lay his hands on the piece of paper he needed.

“For months prior to the demolition of the old office it became a standing joke that at some stage he was going to have to sort everything out. It was on the back of this joke that the idea of a plaque to mark the spot where his desk once stood developed.”

Mr Drinkwater added: “His desk was legendary. In all the years I only saw it tidy three times and one of those was when Prince Charles visited the brewery in 2001 and he was made to. He just swept everything into a box and hid it underneath. Total disarray quickly returned.”

Although retired, Geoff was asked to return on the pretext of a meeting to discuss his pension.

In fact, he was guided down into the brewery yard where, surrounded by a gathering of his colleagues, he was invited to unveil the plaque.

End-of-term humour by chief executive

There was a definite end-of-term jocularity going on at Cranswick yesterday.

The announcement that Bernard Hoggarth is stepping down as chief executive after 34 years at the Hull-based company appeared to release his mischievous side as the group announced record annual sales.

Asked why he’s stepping down now the jovial Mr Hoggarth replied: “I don’t want to be the richest man in the graveyard.”

He then went on to do his best to disrupt the Yorkshire Post’s interview with the management team who will take over in August.

When asked what new countries the group might export to, he replied that the main reason for entering the Australian market was so that sales and marketing director Jim Brisby could go surfing.

Mr Hoggarth won’t be resting on his laurels when he does step down. He plans to indulge his passion for motor-racing, shooting and holidaying in France. Diary is very jealous.

German economic rule gets O’Leary’s vote

RYANAIR’S colourful chief executive Michael O’Leary has some outspoken views on Ireland’s economy, but admits he’s unlikely to get elected as Prime Minister.

“I think I would have a fairly unpopular platform,” said the businessman. “Ireland can only survive by borrowing. I’m all in favour of the German government running the Irish economy.

“My personal bugbear is we pay a personal child allowance to everybody in Ireland, even if I’m a multi-millionaire. My wife is busy storing it up in piggy banks.”

He said other manifesto pledges would be closing down 1,000 quangos and abolishing the Irish army – “an army that’s never gone to war and never managed to defend the country”.

Mr O’Leary said he was unable to persuade the board to approve a big management pay settlement, instead announcing plans to return about 483m euro (£390m) to shareholders via a special dividend. “I tried to recommend a very generous senior management programme but that got turned down.”

High-kicking staff set world record

OFFICE workers at KPMG in Leeds have become unlikely martial arts world record setters.

A 50-strong group took part in the largest synchronised taekwondo routine along with 750 colleagues around the country. As well as achieving a world record, £50,000 was raised for children’s charity Barnardo’s.

The Leeds professionals punched and kicked their way through the routine alongside a group of year five pupils at All Saints C of E Primary School in the city, with which KPMG has a relationship through its corporate social responsibility programme. KPMG is also a sponsor of GB Taekwondo.

Karen Orr, partner at KPMG in Leeds, said: “The Big Blue Kick, as we called it, was a unique way for us to fund raise for Barnardo’s, our staff charity, that we have raised more than £1m for in the last 18 months,” she said.