People and Business: ICI talent show

ANALYSTS ARRIVING for ICI's annual results briefing yesterday were surprised to see the outgoing chairman, Sir Ronnie Hampel, take the podium instead of Charles Miller Smith, who had been named successor only the day before.

Sir Ronnie assured the assembled City scribblers that they were witnessing "neither a resurrection, nor a reincarnation". Mr Miller Smith was flat on his back in bed with flu. All of which meant that ICI's new chief executive, Brendan O'Neill, had to deliver the main presentation. Is there no end to this man's talents?

E-mail: j.willcock@independent.co.uk