Rigging the benefits of creating a better entrance

A startling sight at Savills yesterday: the famously parsimonious agent has spend what feels like a small six-figure sum doing up the reception area at their Grosvenor Hill HQ.  The IKEA and Carpetright feel has gone. Black marble cladding graces an entrance that leads to a reception dominated somewhat by a gently glowing Perspex screen showing a City skyline in relief. 

The man who badgered his fellow directors into this expenditure was John Rigg. Right now the German funds and banks that Rigg looks after so well are very active. But do the Germans want to enter the front hall of a firm that looks like it has seen better days?  No.  That was apparently the clincher for CEO Jeremy Helsby. He agreed to splash out. Last week the result was unveiled. No doubt Mr Rigg will be asked to provide a cost benefit exercise in six months.