By Vicki Owen

BP announced today that Dame Ann Dowling will join its board as a non-executive director. The head of the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, where she is Professor of Mechanical Engineering, is taking up her new role this week. 

BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg says: ‘I welcome Ann Dowling to the board. Ann has a strong academic and engineering background and I look forward to her contribution to our discussions.’

Dowling has held visiting posts at MIT and Caltech and has had strong links with industry throughout her career, BP says.

Facts about Dame Ann Dowling:

- Her research is primarily in the fields of combustion, fluid mechanics, vibration and noise, and is aimed mainly at the transport and energy sectors.

- She is one of the founders of the Energy Efficient Cities initiative in Cambridge. 

- She is chairman to the University Gas Turbine Partnership (UGTP) with Rolls-Royce in which a range of technologies are researched for the next generations of aero and industrial gas turbines.

- She was UK lead of the Silent Aircraft Initiative, a collaboration between researchers at Cambridge and MIT, which led to the development of a conceptual design for a novel, ultra-low noise, fuel-efficient aircraft that has helped set the scene for NASA’s long-term vision.

- She is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Engineering, and of the French Academy of Sciences.

- She has an Honorary ScD degree from Trinity College Dublin and an Honorary Fellowship from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

- She has served on a number of industry and government advisory bodies.

- She chaired the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering study on Nanotechnology and is chairing the Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics Panel in the Research Excellence Framework – the UK government’s review of research in universities.

- She was appointed CBE by the Queen for services to Mechanical Engineering in 2002, and DBE for services to Science in 2007.

[Reuters] Mark Zuckerberg may be retaining tight control over the company when it floats, but he isn’t the only one running the company. Critically he has surrounded himself with experienced executives.

These are some of the key personalities behind Zuckerberg and Facebook – the world’s largest social network.

1. Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive and co-founder

Zuckerberg, portrayed as a brilliant, ambitious and ruthless empire-builder in the 2010 movie “The Social Network,” founded Facebook with Chris Hughes, Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin while at Harvard University in 2004.

The 27-year-old frontman, who has repeatedly said he was in no rush to go public because that might distract employees and dilute his control, decides the direction and product strategy of the company.

Forbes estimates Zuckberg’s net worth at $17.5 billion, making him the 14th richest man in the United States.

2. Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer and Zuckerberg’s top lieutenant

Sandberg, one of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley, oversees business operations including sales, marketing, business development, human resources, public policy and communications.

Another former Google employee, Sandberg built and managed Google’s online sales channels for advertising and publishing and operations for consumer products. Before working for Google, she was chief of staff at the Treasury Department under President Clinton.

Zuckerberg’s 533.8 million shares in Facebook are worth almost $16 billion, based on a per-share value of $29.76 that the company assigned to its restricted stock units on 31st December. As a result, Zuckerberg, following the example set by Apple founder Steve Jobs, agreed to decrease his compensation from $1.48 million last year to $1.00 effective Jan. 1, 2013.

By comparison, Sheryl Sandberg earned $30.8 million in total compensation last year.

3. Peter Thiel, investor and director

The billionaire Stanford alumnus and former Wall Street trader was Facebook’s first outside investor and director. Thiel co-founded online payments service PayPal and sold it to eBay Inc for $1.5 billion in 2002.

4. Christopher Cox, vice president of product

Cox organizes Facebook’s product strategy and oversees product management and design. He joined the company in 2005 as a software engineer and was involved in the first versions of Facebook features such as the News Feed and Inbox.

5. Dan Rose, vice president of partnerships

A former Amazon.com Inc manager who helped develop the “Kindle” digital book reader, Rose oversees Facebook’s partnerships, forging ties with Hollywood film studios, game makers, mobile phone companies and even carmakers. Rose also takes the lead on mergers and acquisitions.

6. David Fischer, vice president of advertising and global operations

Fischer is responsible for much of Facebook’s vast and highly profitable advertising network. He runs sales, advertiser marketing and customer operations. During seven years at Google Inc, Fischer helped build that company’s online ad network into the largest in the world.

Before that, he was deputy chief of staff at the Treasury Department during the Clinton Administration.

[Reuters] Nicola Horlick, one of the most high-profile women in Britain’s financial industry, is launching a business aimed at making it easier for wealthy individuals to make private equity investments.

Rockpool Investments, which Horlick is launching with two former 3i Group executives, will try to capitalise on recent regulatory changes in Britain designed to encourage greater investment in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Horlickfirst made headlines in 1997 for successfully confronting Deutsche Bank over her suspension as Managing Director of its UK unit Morgan Grenfell Asset Management amid allegations she was planning to defect to a rival firm with her team.

She flew to Frankfurt along with 40 journalists to watch as she demanded her bosses reinstate her.

Her recent record has been more mixed.

Horlick faced intense criticism after Bramdean Asset Management, a London-based investment house which she founded and still runs as chief executive, lost $20 million of investors’ money to Bernard Madoff’s ponzi scheme in 2008.

A battle followed with property magnate Vincent Tchenguiz, who had invested about 40 million pounds in Bramdean at its float and successfully pushed to replace the board after the losses came to light.

Bramdean sold the bulk of its funds business to Aberdeen Asset Management in 2009.

Rockpool will seek to exploit the growing demand for individual investments in SMEs as bank financing becomes harder to come by.

Under changes to the UK’s Enterprise Investment Scheme, individuals can now reclaim more of the cost of investments in SMEs against income tax, while the number of eligible companies – and the amount they can raise in any one year – has increased.

Rockpool will seek to sign up rich private investors to its network happy to invest a minimum of 25,000 pounds per deal. The business will focus on deals requiring between 2 and 10 million pounds of equity.

Horlickwill take on the role of Chairman at Rockpool, with Gary Robins, formerly chief executive of Hotbed and Matt Taylor, a former partner at Foresight Group, jointly managing the business.

Last year Horlicktold Reuters she was planning to set up a a “fund-supermarket type-platform.”

At the time she also said she was setting up a chain of private member clubs in London’s suburbs, to be named after her late daughter, Georgina, as well as pursuing a $150 million farmland deal in Brazil’s Bahia region for two UK institutions. (Read more here)

>> Or for more on Michelle Mone, click here, or to read about other Female Entrepreneurs, take a look here.

Scots entrepreneur Michelle Mone has threatened to leave for England if the country votes to leave the union.

Mone said she would move to London with her business in the event of a “Yes” vote in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence.

“I will move my business and I will move personally,” she told the Sunday Times newspaper.

“I don’t think we can survive on our own and I think it would be really bad for business.

“Everything would go up and I really don’t think we need it at the moment.”

Ms Mone, from Glasgow, is the co-owner of MJM International and creator of lingerie brand Ultimo. She was awarded an OBE in 2010.

She ranks among the UK’s most successful businesswomen and her designs can be found in department stores worldwide.

Her comments follow concerns raised by other Scottish business figures, including Boyd Tunnock, managing director of Tunnock’s, that delay in posing the referendum question will harm the economy.

However, constitutional change has been supported by figures such as Dan Macdonald, the chief executive of property developer and investment company Macdonald Estates, and the industrialist Jim McColl.

A spokesman for Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said: “The reality is that major international companies are voting with their feet by bringing major investments to Scotland – including Amazon, Avaloq, Gamesa, Mitsubishi, Ceridian, Bank of New York Mellon and Atos – and with the powers to deliver lower corporation tax, which only independence offers, we can achieve even more.

“Scotland is attracting more inward investment jobs than anywhere else in the UK, including London, and independence will see Scotland become the sixth wealthiest country per head in the OECD. Scotland will have a £1 trillion asset base in the form of Scotland’s North Sea oil and gas reserves – at the same time as the UK is now £1 trillion in debt.”

He said similar negative remarks about the prospect of independence were made in the 2007 election, which the SNP won before forming its first administration.

The spokesman added: “This is a time to talk positively about Scotland, and we will be very happy to meet with Ms Mone to discuss our nation’s future.”

She is hard at work on Viva Forever, the Spice Girls musical due to debut in London’s West End at the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Judy Craymer is continuing to reap the rewards of her first musical, the global phenomenon Mamma Mia!

Based on the music of Abba, Craymer created Mamma Mia! 13 years ago when she persuaded the group’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus to give her permission to use their music.

She has built up an estimated £60 million fortune through the success of the show in theatres worldwide and the 2008 film starring Meryl Streep.

Accounts for Littlestar Services, the company that Craymer set up with Andersson and Ulvaeus for Mamma Mia!, show that she received a dividend of £1.5 million last year, with the Abba pair sharing a further £1.5 million.

Turnover for the year to the end of last March was £15.4 million with profits of £3.7 million.

Viva Forever – the title comes from the Spice Girls’ 1998 hit – is being written by comedienne Jennifer Saunders and produced by Craymer in association with pop impresario Simon Fuller and the Spice Girls.

>> Or for more news, views and articles about Alzheimers and Dementia specifically click here.

By Sarah Whitebloom

The brouhaha about Meryl Streep’s new film, The Iron Lady, shows that dementia, or at least a depiction of its effects, is clearly still a taboo for many people – despite the fact that three quarters of a million people in Britain have the condition.

The film, which I haven’t yet seen (no time to go to the pictures), shows the impact of dementia on the former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher. And, looking at letters pages and reviews, it evidently has all sorts of people up in arms because of this.

It may be of questionable taste to make a movie about a living individual’s descent into dementia. As I say, I haven’t seen it. But it can only be right that the true impact of dementia is laid bare on film.

We’ve had films about all sorts of mental conditions from Rain Man to Spellbound to The Madness of King George to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. And there have been movies about illness and disability such as The King’s Speech, Love Story and The Elephant Man.

Yet, there have been precious few films about dementia. A couple spring to mind: Iris, about the writer Iris Murdoch, starring Judi Dench and Jim Broadbent, and Away From Her, starring Julie Christie.

But most depictions of the condition on our screens portray delightfully vague and eccentric people doing funny things. Just last night, [January 15], in the new BBC series, Call the Midwife, we saw an amusing elderly nun who ate cake all the time. This may have been the case, since the programme is based on a true story. But it is the standard image of dementia with which we are presented and very far from reality for many sufferers.

Of course, there can be amusing moments with dementia. And you have to laugh because otherwise… For instance, on being told that he was actually married to ‘that strange woman’ in the kitchen, my father said: ‘It’s just one blow after another today.’

But people should be under no illusion about dementia and we should not seek to hide those away who suffer from it, as though they have something of which they should be ashamed.

Indeed, if people realise that such a powerful person as Lady Thatcher has the condition, then it might help to remove the stigma.  And there is most definitely stigma attached to dementia. At the moment, you get the impression that some people believe sufferers bring it on themselves in some way – by not keeping themselves alert or not doing enough to help themselves.

Whatever people think about Lady Thatcher, who could accuse her of not being alert? If it helps tackle the taboo and people’s prejudices, then the film will have helped sufferers.

Are critics of The Iron Lady actually more uncomfortable for themselves than for her?

>> FMWF would like to hear your views. You can comment below or email whocares@fmwf.com.

THE First Women Awards, which recognise pioneering women who have achieved ‘firsts’ within their business sector, are now open for nominations.

The awards, which are in their eighth year, were set up by business magazine Real Business and the Confederation of British Industry and are sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group.

The judges, which include Dame Mary Perkins of Specsavers, will be looking for women that have ‘broken new ground or the glass ceiling’ in their chosen industry, removing barriers or opening up opportunities for others as a result.

There are several categories of awards, covering sectors such as manufacturing and engineering, retail & consumer, science & technology and finance.

There is also a lifetime achievement award, given to an individual who has made the greatest contribution to women in business in Britain.

The First Women In Business of the Year award will be given to an organisation or company that is ‘outstanding in promoting women in the workplace’.

Former award winners include Thea Green, the founder of Nails Inc and Liz Nelson OBE, founder of market research company Taylor Nelson Sofres.

The deadline for award entries is Friday April 13, while an awards ceremony to announce the winners will be held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, on June 28.

To enter visit fwa.realbusiness.co.uk or contact alexis.carlson@caspianmedia.com for a nomination form

CRITIERIA FOR NOMINEES CITATION

The citation must address the following key judges’ criteria:

• Outline specific career/life achievements that are ‘firsts’ or breakthroughs
• Describe the way in which the candidate has broken new ground or ‘glass ceiling’ or has achieved their success by doing things differently from the established norms of their organisation or industry sector
• Outline ways in which the candidate’s achievements have helped to remove barriers, or open up opportunities for others, or set out new pathways for the future
• Describe the candidate’s vision for the future and how they intend, in practical terms, to build on their existing achievements
• The citation should conclude with an answer to the following question: What opportunity would the candidate like to go after if she had the necessary funding/resources available?

Research by occupational psychologists Geoff Trickey and So Yi Yeung showed different styles between the male and female personality, suggesting that risk-taking is influenced by gender.

Women are more than twice as likely to be wary or prudent, while men are twice as likely be to adventurous and carefree, the study among 2,000 workers in more than 20 occupations ranging from firefighting to accountancy showed.

The researchers said the findings suggested that risk-taking must be a “distinctive feature” of gender, adding that it offered a likely explanation for the differences in female and male leadership styles.

They added that the study provided more evidence that the typical leadership style of women is more effective in the present economic climate.

Mr Trickey, of Psychological Consultancy Ltd, said: “The implication of our gender difference findings is that male/female risk type differences are genetic, having achieved a balance shaped by evolution which would have been critical to survival of our species.

“It’s easy to see how the balance between prudent, cautious, long-term decision-making of females would have married up very effectively with the impulsive, carefree, adventurous approach of males.

“Risk taking is necessary and desirable, but we need to reinstate the balance that ensured the survival of our ancestors. Whether this is best done by gender selection manipulation is arguable, but the aim should be to achieve a balance of risk types.”

The findings will be presented today at the British Psychological Society’s annual occupational psychology conference in Chester.

Since then, the chairman and founder of Caffe Nero has defied fierce competition and the economic downturn to become a High Street success.

‘It’s true there might have been something in the California air – setting up businesses was not unusual among friends,’ says Ford, 54

‘We could see examples of what could be achieved with creativity, confidence and hard work. But hope of making big money wasn’t the driving force – it was the thought that anything was possible, including changing the world for the better.’

Ford hoped to change the British High Street for the better by introducing Continental-style cafes. The idea was born while the American was working on his PhD in US-European relations at Oxford, when he spent time visiting Europe.

‘I was travelling in Europe writing up notes in cafes and thinking, “Why are there no places in Britain where work, relaxation and high quality coffee and food can be combined?” ‘ he says.

‘I could see a gap in the market that traditional British pubs and tea and coffee shops didn’t meet.’

Today Caffe Nero – the name is Italian for black coffee, but also aims to reflect the distinctive taste of its beans and relaxed Continental style atmosphere of the bars – has more that 470 outlets in Britain. It employs 4,000 people and has expanded into Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Earnings before interest, tax and amortisation in the year to the end of May were £30.1 million, up from £28.7 million in the previous 12 months, with sales up by 7.7 per cent to £165.6 million. Earnings have grown for 57 consecutive quarters.

While Ford had no family background in business, his intellectual firepower is shown by qualifications from three of the world’s top universities.

He gained his first degree at Stanford in America, an MBA from Insead business school, near Paris, and the doctorate from Oxford.

Ford’s first job was as a financial analyst for technology giant Hewlett-Packard. He then joined the world of venture capital and worked for Apax Partners before co-founding Paladin Associates. By 1997 he had amassed the financial know-how to launch Caffe Nero with five branches in London.

Raising the start-up capital presented challenges. ‘Lenders need to share your enthusiasm for a business idea and understand the market research on which it’s based,’ he says.

‘Attention to detail is required to create a persuasive case for receiving scarce funds. And you need to surround yourself with people with resilience, determination and drive.’

Ford’s plan for providing premium espresso-based coffee and fresh food, including panini made from an Italian recipe, in authentic Italian style cafe settings took off.

The business was floated on the London stock market in 2001 and the company ended the year with 80 branches in Britain. In 2005, Caffe Nero was named the 20th fastest-growing company in Europe by Business Week magazine and Ford won a ‘UK Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

But, in early 2007 he decided to return to the private sector and hold a majority stake. ‘I wanted the flexibility and ability to move quickly, plus the option to take the risks that going private gives,’ he says.

The company expanded into Turkey, where there are now 25 outlets and the UAE, which has 15. ‘The brand travels well – meeting a need for a natural gathering point that can enrich life,’ says Ford.

In January, Caffe Nero completed a £140 million refinancing deal which is fuelling continued expansion. New branches have opened in Britain almost every week this year.

Given that sales are rising, Caffe Nero seems to be immune from the belt-tightening that is affecting many businesses.

‘Our aim is to establish a brand that becomes part of people’s lives in both good and harder economic times, by providing a welcoming environment for relaxing with friends and family, working on a laptop [there is free wi-fi], or simply for soaking up the atmosphere on your own,’ says Ford.

The business is also helped by rising demand for coffee on the High Street. Retail analyst Allegra Strategies estimates the value of sales by Britain’s ‘branded’ coffee chains – including Caffe Nero, Costa and Starbucks – will reach £2.2 billion by the end of this year, up from £1.9 billion in 2010.

According to the British Coffee Association, 70 million cups of coffee are consumed every day in Britain. Research suggests that almost half of the population uses coffee shops and cafes.

But while Ford’s passion for the business can mean long working days devising strategy and visiting Caffe Nero branches, time with family is not neglected. Taking his six and eight-year-old sons to school and reading them a bedtime story is a priority for Ford, who lives with his wife, Amanda, in Kensington, west London. ‘Business success is one thing, but you can’t put a value on family life,’ he says.

Billionairess Yelena Baturina

>> We have a whole section dedicated to Female Billionaires here, or why not take a look at our pages devoted to Russians living and working in Britain

By Will Stewart in Moscow

Russia’s richest woman, who lives in exile in London, has been threatened with an Interpol arrest warrant if she fails to urgently submit to questions inMoscow over a £285 million corruption case.

Yelena Baturina is wanted initially as a witness, but Yuri Luzhkov, her husband and former mayor of Moscow, fears she would be stopped from returning to Britain.

Russian investigators have already put two leading Moscow bankers, who also fled to London, on Interpol’s wanted list in connection with the case.

Baturina, 48, a billionairess who made her money in construction and property, has repeatedly failed to face questions, say investigators.

One senior official said: ‘In the case of her further nonappearance, the investigation bodies will take complete measures, including Interpol opportunities.’

Luzhkov said last week that his wife would go for questioning if she was given guarantees that she could return to London.

Andrei Borodin and Dmitry Akulinin, who ran Bank of Moscow, have said arrest warrants issued against them are politically motivated.

The pair are accused of improperly lending £285 million to shell firms, which then transferred the cash to Baturina’s holdings