Laura Ashley seeks divine intervention

Laura Ashley, the international retailer of English country style from frocks to furniture, is seeking divine help for its earthly…

Laura Ashley, the international retailer of English country style from frocks to furniture, is seeking divine help for its earthly problems by appointing Mr Pat Robertson, the US evangelist, as a non-executive director.

Mr Robertson, prominent TV preacher and former seeker of a Republican presidential nomination, owns two million shares in the company. He will help in its effort to overcome years of seemingly intractable difficulties which a string of chief executives has failed to solve.

A new chief executive, Mr Kwan Cheong Ng, was appointed yesterday, taking the total to eight since the group listed on the stock market in 1985.