The Business

The curious case of Mike Lynch

British tech billionaire Mike Lynch died in August 2024, on board The Bayesian, his luxury superyacht, sunk by a freak storm as it was moored off Sicily. He’d been there with his family and closest associates to celebrate his acquittal of criminal fraud charges in the US. It was a tragic end to the story of a self-made business man - a man who was one of Britain’s biggest titans of tech. So, who exactly was Mike Lynch? How did he manage to build such a huge tech success story? And how did it all come crashing down?As we end the year, Dom and Hannah have each picked their ‘business book of 2025’. In today’s episode Hannah sits down with Katie Prescott, Times colleague and author of The Curious Case of Mike Lynch.Host: Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday Times.Guest: Katie Prescott, Technology Business editor for The Times, presenter on The Tech Podcast and author of ‘the curious case of Mike Lynch’Clips: GettyPhoto: GettyProducer: Miriam HallExecutive producer: Kate FordGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comYou can buy The Curious Case of Mike Lynch by Katie Prescott at the Times Bookshop.Listen to The Times Tech Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musk vs Bezos: The new race for space

In space, a battle between big business is taking place as two of the world’s wealthiest men vie for dominance. Elon Musk’s Space X and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin have taken the space industry in the US out of the hands of government and into the hands of the private sector. But what are the consequences? Who will win the commercial race to extract crucial minerals from outer space? And who will police space if the rivalry between China and the US extends into orbit?As we end the year, Dom and Hannah have each picked their ‘business book of 2025’. In today’s episode Dom sits down with Christian Davenport, author of Rocket Dreams.Host: Dominic O’Connell, business columnist at The Times and business presenter on Times Radio Guest: Christian Davenport, Washington Post journalist and author, Rocket DreamsClips: GettyPhoto: GettyProducer: Julia JohnsonExecutive producer: Kate FordGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comYou can buy Rocket Dreams by Christian Davenport at the Times Bookshop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The battle of the fat jabs

2025 has been a wild ride of big pharma - driven by explosive use of revolutionary weight-loss medication - pushing one of the biggest manufacturers, Eli Lilly, to a trillion-dollar valuation. A dramatic takeover war also saw Denmark’s pharma darling Novo Nordisk trumped by US giant Pfizer. Now, while Novo’s share price is down 50% over the course of the year, Lilly is in the stratosphere normally reserved for the likes of tech firms. But the story’s not over. These, and smaller, challenger companies are slogging it out for market dominance. Who can nail the science for the next holy grail in weight loss meds – an oral pill. And what does investor behaviour tell us about where the market is going? Presenters:Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday TimesRichard Fletcher, Business Editor, The TimesGuests:Eleanor Hayward, Health Editor, The TimesPaul Major, portfolio manager at Bellevue Asset managementProducer: Miriam HallSenior Producer: Julia JohnsonExecutive Producer: Kate FordPhoto credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Rush: Boom or bubble?

Gold, the world's oldest asset, is experiencing a remarkable boom. Its value has surged from just over £2000 per ounce a year ago to well over £3000 today, reaching highs not seen since the 1970s. This rapid rise is unusual because gold typically peaks when stock markets decline, yet this rally has coincided with booming equity markets. So, what is driving the value up? Have we reached the peak, or is there more growth to come?Guests:Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.James Ashley Morrison, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations and Associate Director of the Phelan United States Centre at the London School of Economics & Political Science.Jim Luke, Portfolio Manager of Schroders Global Gold Fund.Producer: Miriam HallSenior Producer: Julia JohnsonExecutive Producer: Kate FordPhoto credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: AI - Reshaping Britain’s workforce

This episode of The Business is sponsored by PwC.As AI rapidly reshapes the world of work, businesses face the biggest transformation since the industrial revolution. While 90% of CEOs surveyed are investing in AI, only 15% are currently getting the value. So, what are the tools driving productivity gains? How can companies move AI from an IT project to one that’s truly integrated across the business? And how exactly are the UK’s largest employers preparing their workforces for the future? In this special bonus episode of The Business, recorded at the Times Tech Summit, Dominic O'Connell chairs a discussion with those at the forefront of this new technology. Guests:Dr Seth Dobrin, CEO, Qantm AIDanielle Gilliam-Moore, Director, Global Public Policy, SalesforceUmang Paw, Chief Technology Officer, PwC Hosts:Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday TimesDominic O’Connell, columnist, The Times & business reporter, Times Radio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.