THE Margin likes a chief executive with guts - and George Mack is clearly such a guy. Who he?

Well, George Mack is the chief executive of United Assurance, which last week slashed 2,200 jobs. One of those to lose her job was investment manager Anthea Cudworth, who just happens to be daughter of United chairman, John Cudworth.

The sacking of Ms Cudworth has, it seems, generated just a little friction between chairman and chief executive. Needless to say, the United Assurance spin doctors deny any such friction.

The Margin has no doubt that chief executives of Irish companies where the chairman's extended family is well represented among the management, will adopt a similarly courageous approach if circumstances warrant.