Articles by James Thomson

Who deserves the title of best CEO? Which business has had the best comeback this year? Which was the business world’s biggest failure? The 2012 Crikeys continue …

Billabong executive Paul Naude is set to lodge a firm bid for the company. But will investors take the money and run? Or will Gordon Merchant again hold out for more?

Nathan Tinkler’s empire is disappearing fast, but the sale of his best horse — the aptly named All Too Hard — will particularly sting. His meteoric rise is landing with a thud.

The “no sitting” rule at a major WA gas project suggests our national productivity drive is seriously off track. Governments should be investing in helping business do better.

Gina Rinehart’s new self-published book offers some unique insights into the mining billionaire. What if she decided to spend more of her fortune on political activism?

Whatever your view on applying GST to online purchases, Canberra supports it. Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury is trying to walk both sides of the street.

The government will need more cuts to protect its slim surplus, but is it really what the economy needs? The fetishism around returning to surplus is spooking business.

Gerry Harvey’s apparent involvement in a plot to fix Qantas is another example of a billionaire trying to fix an iconic company. These people just can’t help themselves.

Australia’s big retailers are trying to jump on the Click Frenzy bandwagon, while Target is still fighting to make a profit online. The numbers for many simply don’t add up.

Anthony Pratt’s subtle turn towards Asia marks an important strategic direction for Visy — plus it shows how structural change is changing the way business is done in key industries.

The latest NAB business confidence survey shows business conditions have fallen to their weakest level in three years, driven down by declines in employment, profitability and trading conditions.

Chris Jordan looks a good appointment as Australia’s new commissioner of taxation. Seemingly everyone has applauded him as the first commissioner to come from outside the public service.

What’s a pharmaceutical company to do when it needs $30-40 million to develop a new drug? Hitch onto the mining boom, of course. Avexa’s strategy is nothing but bold.

Getting a horse in the Melbourne Cup field is an expensive business — even if racing idealists call the Cup an egalitarian race. James Thomson surveys the field of horse owners.

As car parts marker Autodom collapses, a report suggests car sales figures have been inflated. So why did we continue to pour massive subsidies into the auto industry?

Unpaid tax debts have jumped from $2.5 billion to $16.6 billion at the end of 2011-2012. The bulk of those are SMEs — and they’re in a very fragile state.

Jan Cameron seems to have tried to run her discount retail empire like a side project. It’s been a terrible mistake. How could she have made such a big one?

James Packer has won over NSW politicians with his plan for a massive new casino and hotel development in Sydney. Last night he was sharing more of himself than ever.

A second firm has walked away from negotiations to takeover the surfwear giant Billabong. Has TPG seen something bad in the books, or is this a story of retail declines?

With as much money as Australia’s Rich List members have, and the vast stretches of beautiful coastline to explore, is it any wonder they love to spend it on boats?

Once a haven for CB radio builders and the like, Dick Smith eventually became a store that was not sure where it fitted in. And it has cost Woolworths dearly.