Observer business profile
Each week Observer writers take a closer look at one of the leading business figures in the news
The man in charge of Labour’s green energy dream: ‘It’s at the limit of what’s achievable’
Fintan Slye, head of the new grid operator Neso, is aware that critics are sceptical about achieving ‘clean power by 2030’. But with tough decisions, he says, it can be done
Royal Academy of Engineering president Jim McDonald: this is how we power a greener future
Far from hanging up his tools, the Scottish engineer is determined to go on promoting the role his profession can play in designing a carbon-free economy
‘We don’t want golf just to be for retired guys … it’s for everyone’: Nigel Oddy of American Golf
A post-lockdown surge in interest in the sport should help diversify the clientele both on the greens and in golf shops, says the retail veteran
Marc Vlessing: the modular homes mogul seeking a ‘renaissance of the British housing market’
The developer saw the need for small but well-designed flats, like those in his native Netherlands, for people priced out of London’s housing market
Alex Baldock: the Currys boss plugging into a more sustainable future
Covid and other crises took their toll, but the boss of the electricals chain says its thriving repair and recycling division is now pointing the way forward
‘I was frustrated’: The woman who told Labour it didn’t need to spend £28bn on green investment
Rhian-Mari Thomas, the head of the Green Finance Institute, suggested to Rachel Reeves the private sector could help offset state funding
‘We’re ready to explode in scale’: Adam Chapman, the Heat Geek founder set on getting Britain decarbonised and warm
His digital startup is spreading the word about heat pumps by offering training for installers, information for homeowners – and guaranteed efficiency
‘I’ve met seven housing ministers, one of them twice’: the head of Homes England on the battle to build
In the light of Labour’s ambitious housing programme, Peter Denton, the man charged with getting residential projects started for the private sector, has his work cut out
Tim Martin of Wetherspoon’s: ‘For a while I was hated based on false information’
Britain’s most famous and most outspoken pub landlord is not afraid of controversy. But even he was shaken by the rough ride he got over Covid furloughs
‘It’s been raining for ever. People are desperate to get outside’: the boss of loveholidays braces for a boom
As the school holidays begin, Donat Rétif says the hi-tech travel agency is well placed to profit from Britons’ steadily rising appetite for travel
From magic acts to Goldman Sachs and beyond: the US finance whiz helping kickstart UK growth
Tracy Blackwell, boss of the Pension Insurance Corporation, has worked her way from up Baskin-Robbins and survived a shipwreck disaster (for her possessions), to lead a company set to work closely with the new chancellor
‘Who buys a retail brand during Covid?’ The man who revived salad chain Tossed
The healthy eating chain almost collapsed during lockdown, but now has visions of putting down roots beyond its core London market
‘I totally understand why people are sceptical’: the co-founder of collapsed energy giant Bulb on his new venture
Amit Gudka is reinventing himself after the failure of his energy firm by plugging into the global battery boom
‘Songwriters deserve a bigger piece of the pie’: the music publishing boss on the threat of AI
Shani Gonzales of Warner Chappell says that although people are ‘having fun’ with creating AI songs, ‘what happens when someone tries to sell it?’
‘Encryption is deeply threatening to power’: Meredith Whittaker of messaging app Signal
The woman in charge of the secure communication channel remains implacably opposed to the ‘disease’ of surveillance – and concerned about the sharing of personal data
‘It should be a right to fix your phone’: the boss of booming secondhand tech firm Back Market
Thibaud Hug de Larauze says sales at his secondhand electronics retailer are soaring not just because people need to save money, but because they also care about waste
Fiftysomethings in pink bobble jumpers: how White Stuff’s boss plans to tap midlife trends
Jo Jenkins is making a play for the mature shoppers left bereft after the loss of so many of Britain’s department stores
Jeff Dodds: the Formula E boss planning a move into pole position
Petrolheads are quick to scorn the idea of electric car racing, but the series’ chief executive is sure that time, technology – and even geography – are on his side
‘It’s not vital to spend five days a week in the office’: the bank boss who works from home
While big beasts on Wall Street rail against WFH, Mike Regnier of Santander UK says he wouldn’t have taken the job if he had had to commute all week
‘It will take two decades to fix the housing crisis’: The developer reshaping south London
Rick de Blaby is at the forefront of the UK’s nascent build-to-rent sector. But can he calm nerves over the transformation of bustling Elephant & Castle?
About 132 results for Observer business profile 
