Neil Hodge
Neil Hodge is a freelance business journalist and photographer based in Nottingham, United Kingdom. He writes on insurance and risk management, corporate governance, internal audit, compliance, and legal issues for a wide range of publications in the United Kingdom and United States.
Contact info
ArticleEC uses ‘interim measures’ on Broadcom to curb anticompetitive behavior
The European Commission has ordered Broadcom to cut out harsh contract terms with six TV and modem manufacturers because they may infringe antitrust rules. It’s the first time the agency has imposed “interim measures” in 18 years
- Article
Oxfam slams U.K. supermarkets over worker abuses in supply chains
In an effort to cut costs and raise revenue, U.K. supermarkets are endangering employees with such abuses as a lack of toilets, unsafe drinking water, and illnesses resulting from exposure to pesticides, says a new report from Oxfam.
- Article
U.K.’s ‘no deal’ Brexit readiness report puts onus on businesses
The U.K. government this week released details about the steps it will take to ensure business continues to operate smoothly if the country leaves the European Union on Oct. 31 without a deal.
- Article
EU whistleblower protection law gets go-ahead
Whistleblower protections against dismissal, demotion, and other forms of retaliation will come into effect in the European Union within the next two years, according to an agreement signed recently by EU leaders.
- Article
BDO warns about state of ‘broken’ U.K. audit market
The head of one of the United Kingdom’s biggest accountancy firms has said the audit market is “clearly broken” and “trust needs to be restored,” though how that should be done is “not clear.”
- Article
FRC investigates EY over Thomas Cook’s books
The U.K. Financial Reporting Council is investigating EY over the audit work it carried out at travel firm Thomas Cook, which recently declared bankruptcy.
- Article
FCA fines Prudential $26.4M in misselling scandal
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has hit Prudential with a £23.8 million (U.S. $26.4 million) fine for misleading 17,000 customers into accepting a deal with the insurance firm when they might have done better on the open market.
- Article
Parliament suspension ‘unlawful’ says U.K. Supreme Court
The U.K. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament unlawful, but it stopped short of suggesting the Prime Minister’s motive was to stymie further debate over the government’s Brexit plans.
- Article
Survey highlights pain points of GDPR implementation
Most organizations failed to meet the May 2018 deadline to comply with the launch of the EU’s tough new privacy rules, and the majority of them still find compliance a challenge, according to a recent survey.
- Article
Vestager keeps competition role in new Commission
Margrethe Vestager is staying put as Europe’s leader in the fight against anti-competitive practices, with a continued focus on Big Tech.
- Article
U.K. Parliament closes amid Brexit uncertainty
Boris Johnson’s plans to split from Europe blew up in his face, resulting in one of the biggest false-starts any U.K. Prime Minister has endured. Not only is Brexit likely to be delayed, but Johnson and his government are now legally bound to seek a deal—or else.
- Article
European Commission still gunning for Big Tech
Coming on the heels of big enforcement actions against Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon, the European Commission is vowing to keep fighting against technology giants profiting at others’ expense.
- Article
Boris Johnson loses control of Brexit
Britain PM Boris Johnson’s firm stance on Brexit has been shot down by Parliament; it remains to be seen when (or if?) the United Kingdom will be departing the European Union.
- Article
Danske reported to police over investment mis-selling
Denmark’s financial regulator has filed a criminal complaint against Danske Bank over a mis-selling scandal that saw its former interim chief executive get fired in June this year.
- Article
Deal or no deal: PM promises Brexit on Oct. 31
Several recent decisions by new Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggest the United Kingdom will crash out of the European Union on the Oct. 31 deadline without a deal.
- Article
Mastercard reveals data breaches in third-party loyalty program
Mastercard is investigating two data breaches relating to a loyalty program it ran in Germany following a leak of personal information that saw customers’ names, addresses, and credit card numbers circulating on the internet.
- Article
Cathay Pacific execs quit due to Hong Kong protests
Amid pressure from Chinese authorities after initially not penalizing employees for taking part in the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, two top Cathay Pacific executives have tendered their resignations.
- Article
In Brexit gambit, U.K. signs legislation to ban EU laws
The repeal of the European Communities Act provides a “clear signal” that the U.K. government intends to leave the European Union without extending the Brexit deadline—with or without a deal.
- Article
ICO investigating facial recognition technology in key London district
Concerns abound over whether or not using facial recognition technology violates consumer privacy.
- Article
Aspen to pay $9.7M to settle U.K. competition concerns
Aspen Pharmacare has offered to pay the U.K.’s National Health Service £8 million (U.S. $9.7 million) following suspicions that the company paid rival firms to delay marketing a vital medicine to retain market dominance.
