Lastminute.com hires X-Asda chief

- Lastminute.com has hired Asda's X-chief executive to be its non-executive chairman. Allan Leighton is also a non-executive director of BSkyB. When Asda was taken over by Wal-Mart last year, Leighton was named president and chief executive of the group.

Leighton's appointment follows the news that Pieter Bouw, who has been in the role since November 1998, is stepping down to be a non-executive director.