THE LONDON TIMES: Going Dutch: “Shell may be envious of the smooth transition at Reed as it hunts for a new chairman. In that case, given the determination for a fresh approach and the fact that the chief executive is Dutch, it may be that any other nationality, apart from Dutch or British, is required” (ShellNews.net) 2 March 05

Business editor's commentary

By Patience Wheatcroft

March 02, 2005

HAD Reed Elsevier been able to clone Morris Tabaksblat, it might have produced Jan Hommen. The former had been chief executive of Unilever before taking over as chairman of Reed; the latter, who now succeeds him, is executive vice-president of Royal Philips Electronics.

It was, we are told, not essential that the newcomer should be Dutch but it probably helps. The choice probably means Reed will be retaining its dual listing structure for some time. Since the business functions highly effectively as a single entity run by London-based Sir Crispin Davis, and investors like it this way, there is little real incentive to change things.

There is change afoot in other Dutch/UK companies. Shell may be envious of the smooth transition at Reed as it hunts for a new chairman. In that case, given the determination for a fresh approach and the fact that the chief executive is Dutch, it may be that any other nationality, apart from Dutch or British, is required. The same may be true at Unilever, where the betting is that the hunt will be on to find a replacement for Antony Burgmans sooner rather than later.