Abchat Weekly Wrap Up: A Digital Pope?

Who is the most powerful/ influential/ famous person in the world, Barack Obama? This is the answer that would be on the majority of people’s lips. Some would argue however that Argentinean Jorge Mario Bergoglio, aka Pope Francis I is really that person in question. Jorge’s powers are relatively new to him, having recently succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, however the influence as head of the Catholic Church is strong and has a very wide reach.

The build up and marketing of the Papal elections make the decision process an exciting time for both Catholics and non Catholics alike, from all corners of the globe. Millions of people across the globe tune in to the Vatican to await the outcome of the cardinal’s votes and tens of thousands even flock many miles to Rome to get a glimpse of the new pontiff. The result of quite a traditionally secret election process is communicated to the world by emitting smoke from the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke for no decision made yet and white smoke to tell the world God has a new representative on the earth! What a extraordinary way of communicating such an important news story!

The Vatican has taken to Twitter however, and could easily rival the traditional process of the smoke from the Sistine. The message in Latin, “Habemus Papam Franciscum,” i.e. "We have Pope Francis" from the official papal account @pontifex, was sent Wednesday evening, soon after the first wisps of white smoke curled out the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to signify a new pope had been found. Within minutes of the first Latin Pope being announced the news was on Twitter and retweeted millions on times, meaning the world really did know who their next Bishop of Rome was. The total number of tweets in regard to the new Pope reached over 7 million, with the US President even getting in on the action.

What will Francis I start using Twitter for? To conduct sermons and preach?



Our first seminar of the week was LSE: Investing in Growth, speech by the Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for International Development, who informed us that Impact Investment is on March G8 agenda and that corporate governance is high on the DFID’s agenda. The positive turnout indicated a big increase in City interest in Impact Investment.

Bozzy attended the CBBC China Business Conference, featuring an opening video message from The Prime Minister and another from Chinese Ambassador to the UK H.E. Liu Xiaoming and other keynote speakers including the Rt Hon Ken Clarke, QC MP, and the event sponsors. Key themes included Chinese luxury consumer spending habits, a need for an increase in CSR awareness in the country and healthcare and infrastructure growth.

Our Leeds office co-hosted an IPO seminar this week with Pinsent Masons, Merchant Securities, Deloitte and the London Stock Exchange. Attending companies considering the IPO route were treated to helpful adviser presentations as well as one-to-one workshops to assist them on their journeys.

Our social media team attended the Farrer & Co. Professional Advisers Essential Guide to Privacy breakfast seminar, where we got some great insights into internet privacy.

Abchaps also attended the Peel Hunt NED Awards and the CIPR Corporate and Financial Group Committee meeting.

Abchaps hosted two market lunches this week, including a natural resources themed lunch.



Moves around the City are sparse this week, although Edison Investment Research, the international investment intelligence firm has brought in three new analysts to the London team. Andrew Mitchell will be covering Financial Services, Tom Grady will be covering Technology and Paul Hickman has been appointed supervisory analyst.

Tim Dolan has joined the financial markets division of law firm SJ Berwin. He joins from Pinsent Masons, where he was partner in its financial services regulatory team.



‘Lurker’ – someone who only reads and observes online discussions and social networking without participating or contributing…. Are you a lurker? Are you?!



If you fancy doing a bit of CSR with your Saturday, join other volunteers who are being asked by waterways charity Thames21 to help give the 5th annual River Thames a deep clean. Taking place on the Isle of Dogs; meeting point is Newcastle Drawdock from 9am until noon.

Today is the start of National Science and Engineering Week – there are plenty of events that you can get involved in.

The Robbie Boyd Band is performing at the Country to Country Festival this weekend at the O2 Arena. The festival is being headlined by Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and LeAnn Rimes.

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day on Sunday in true comic style at The Drunk Show in Marylebone – you’ll get two versions from stand-up comedians, first sober, then again pretty 'trolleyed', or indeed 'gazeboed'. Alternatively, go native and find your local Irish pub.

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