We have to get rid of this clubby atmosphere of the old boy network because it doesn’t function properly.” Denise Kingsmill, deputy chairman of the UK Competition Commission, said: “It is not unreasonable to expect all these companies could employ at least one woman director in the next three years.”The headhunters need to produce a more diverse list of candidates and the shareholders need to exercise their influence in demanding more diversity at boardroom level.”. RMC Group, the cement and concrete maker, is believed to be ready to sign a deal to sell its do-it-yourself chain Great Mills, possibly as soon as today. RMC Group, the cement and concrete maker, is believed to be ready to sign a deal to sell its do-it-yourself chain Great Mills, possibly as soon as today.
Analysts said that Focus Do It All, the fourth-biggest DIY chain, owned by Duke Street Capital, was a probable suitor in the talks, which RMC yesterday admitted were at an “advanced stage”.However, one analyst said: “The fact that they are still quoting their price range for Great Mills as up to £300m suggests they have had quite a few options. There were lower expectations in the City and we expected them to bring their range down.”RMC yesterday also issued a progress report on its cost-cutting review, started in July to combat harsher business conditions in its core non-UK markets of the United States and Germany. The company had already said 1,000 jobs would be cut from operations worldwide, with 170 coming from UK and 400 from German operations.RMC revealed for the first time yesterday that the cost-cutting project, which also involved selling businesses in Indonesia and Florida and streamlining other operations, would cost £60m, which will be charged to the profit and loss account in 2000.An RMC spokesman said: “We are ahead of ourselves. We said the review would lead to savings of £40m a year, but now we are estimating it will be £50m and that the results will be seen from January 2001.”Analysts questioned whether the measures would be enough to combat tough trading in the world cement market.

Mike Betts of JP Morgan said: “I am not sure if I regard the strategic review as a one-off event. If the markets continue to be difficult in Germany and the US and that extends to the UK, we may well hear that there will be another review.”RMC shares rose 18p to 610p.. Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, the no-frills airline, yesterday said the forthcoming float of rival easyJet was vastly overpriced and added that British Airways’ low-cost airline Go was “worth nothing”. Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, the no-frills airline, yesterday said the forthcoming float of rival easyJet was vastly overpriced and added that British Airways’ low-cost airline Go was “worth nothing”.
BA put Go up for sale this week with at an estimated price tag of £300m to £500m. Yesterday Go said it was on track to report its first annual profit for the current year.Mr O’Leary, announcing a 45 per cent increase in interim pre-tax profits, said: “Getting rid of Go is the first sensible thing BA has done in the last four years.

But it’s not particularly saleable, and you can forget anyone paying £300m for it.”BA’s best strategy would be to close it down and walk away That’s because BA’s problem is that Go competes with it. Anyone paying a lot of money for it will lose a lot of money. If BA gets anything for it, it will be a miracle.”Mr O’Leary’s views will not surprise to his rivals, but it is unusual for a chief executive publicly to attack rivals so comprehensively. He said he thought Go might fetch £25m to £30m, and he did not believe it would be profitable for the full year. “The period they are talking about being profitable is the peak travel time. Over those months, if my granny had set up an airline, it would have been profitable.

A company losing £25m a year is worth nothing.”Ryanair’s results for the six months to 30 September showed a 33 per cent rise in passengers carried to 3.9 million and pre-tax profits of £78.9m, helped by sterling’s strength and an sharp increase in internet bookings.Go yesterday unveiled a net loss before tax of £21.8m for the year to 31 March. Trading in the first six months of the current year was profitable, with sales up 75 per cent in the period to £89m. The group said 65 per cent of sales are being made online.Barbara Cassani, Go’s chief executive, said she was determined to stay as head of the business after it was sold. “The kind of buyer I would like best is one that wants me to be CEO…