The dastardly Mr Deedes

UniCredit boss Jean Pierre Mustier’s tenure at the Italian bank is off to a sticky start, with shares plunging 9pc following recent stress test results. London-based Mustier, 55, a cadaverous Frenchman with a fondness for sailing, has been in post barely a fortnight. Intriguingly, I’m told Unicredit tried to lure Lloyds’ £8.5m-a-year Portuguese honcho Antonio Horta- Osorio. But at 52, Brylcreemed Antonio couldn’t face learning another language. Besides, he covets Stuart Gulliver’s HSBC perch which is up for grabs in the not-too-distant future.

Newly installed Financial Conduct chief Andrew Bailey has recruited Sarah Bailey (no relation), his former aide at the Bank of England, to be his communications chief. Clever clogs Andrew, 57, will know the importance of a well-oiled spin operation. A botched press briefing was thought to have done for his testy predecessor, Martin Wheatley. I’m told there are no flies on redoubtable Sarah, a steely brunette, albeit not one of life’s thigh slappers.

Man Group’s crew- cut boss Manny Roman, 52, who is off to run investment manager PIMCO, is warned by employees at the Californian-based firm they expect changes, ‘but we want it to be measured, responsible changes’. A none-too-subtle reference to the non-union management style of Manny’s zany predecessor Bill Gross, 72. Weirdo ticks were said to include a ban on traders making eye contact with him before lunch. ‘I’m not a morning person,’ Gross later admitted.

To the dismay of Londoners, Insurance giant Prudential’s sponsorship of Ride London continues for another three years. Last weekend’s cycling race is loathed around the capital due to the traffic chaos it unleashes. Perhaps the Pru’s £7.5m-a-year- Canadian chief executive Mike Wells, 56, should show willing and enter next year’s event. As a deft cowpoke – he owns a cattle ranch back in good ol’ Tennessee – he’s already well seasoned to the saddle.

Ex-FT writer Hugo Dixon, founder of financial news website Breakingviews, is still moping over the Brexit vote. He remarks glumly: ‘ Financial investors seem to think the UK will settle easily into a new deal with the European Union. More likely there will be Cabinet wrangles, tortuous negotiations with the EU and an unsatisfactory outcome.’ Clearly bearded Hugo, 53, hasn’t inherited the bulldog spirit of his great-grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill.