Melvyn Marckus, who died last week aged 79, was this paper’s city editor from 1982 until 1993, during which time he made the Observer a must-read in City and business circles. He combined expert knowledge and an individual writing style with high-level contacts in the boardrooms of major companies and among City advisers, developed from previous roles at the Daily Mail and the Sunday Telegraph.
Those contacts produced headline-making revelations – such as the hubristic 1987 approach by admen Maurice and Charles Saatchi to merge with the then Midland Bank – along with the inside track on the bids and deals of the day.
