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Peer behind PM’s Whitehall review defends links to Greensill director

Francis Maude says he ‘might have’ spoken to Bill Crothers since launching review of spending
The Conservative peer conducting changes in Whitehall for Boris Johnson has defended his relationship with Bill Crothers, the former senior civil servant who has been drawn into the Greensill lobbying row.
Francis Maude is undertaking a review of the Cabinet Office for the prime minister.
During David Cameron’s first term, he was minister for the same department – and was instrumental in hiring Crothers for a senior role in the civil service to help curb government spending.Crothers spent three years as chief commercial officer in the Cabinet Office under Maude, overseeing about £40bn of taxpayers’ money, for which he was paid £149,000 a year.
He took a part-time board advisory role with Greensill Capital, now at the centre of a lobbying scandal involving Cameron, in September 2015 – while he was still employed as a civil servant. He later became a director of the company.
Maude disclosed he was responsible for picking Crothers to work in the Cabinet Office in 2011 as ministers sought to implement Cameron’s austerity programme.
“I gathered together a collection of the best commercial directors from around Whitehall and he was one of them. He was one of the capable commercial directors who had a big contribution to make by saving taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Asked whether he had spoken to Crothers since launching a review which includes government spending, Maude said: “I might have had a conversation with him … I can’t recall.”
Crothers, a fast-talking, Belfast-born accountant who came in from the management consultancy Accenture, entered the Cabinet Office as the chair of the Crown Commercial Service.
Sources said he was friendly with Maude from the start of his tenure, and the pair were seen as part of a small group of senior civil servants and politicians who were pushing for major changes to the civil service.
In 2012, Crothers was promoted to be the government’s chief commercial officer after Maude approved the post. Crothers was known as an abrasive negotiator, unafraid of upsetting major suppliers or fellow civil servants.
Maude left the Cabinet Office in May 2015 to become a trade minister. Two months later, Crothers announced he would resign too and joined Greensill in September 2015 as an adviser before finally leaving his Cabinet Office post in November of that year.
Maude said they had continued to work together. Crothers worked for Francis Maude Associates, a consultancy firm he founded, as recently as three years ago.
“He did some work during 2017 and 2018 as a freelance accountant,” he said.
Asked whether he was surprised that Crothers was allowed to work as a civil servant while taking up a role at Greensill, Maude said: “I do not recall what the rules were at that time and I wasn’t party to any of those decisions. I think it is best to leave it to be explored properly.”
Labour’s Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, said the government could not deflect attention away from the current administrations on to the Cameron era and departed civil servants.
“We’re seeing more lines drawn from the Greensill scandal straight through the door of No 10 Downing Street,” she said.
“The growing cronyism and numerous revolving-door scandals can’t be ignored any longer. This is why we need proper parliamentary inquiry. Instead, the Conservatives voted for another cover-up.”
Crothers was approached for comment.
source: Rajeev Syal
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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