THE LAST vestiges of Seán Quinn’s reign over the troubled insurer that bears his name are literally being pulled down.

Last weekend, workmen began dismantling the Quinn logo from the side of its high-profile office tower in Blanchardstown, west Dublin(pictured right). It doesn’t quite have the resonance of Anglo Irish Bank’s sign being pulled down from its former HQ at St Stephen’s Green, but it’s symbolic nonetheless.

Regulatory approval for Quinn Insurance’s takeover by US financial group Liberty Mutual is expected to come through in coming days.

Liberty plans to tweak the branding as an interim measure. While the Quinn name will remain for now, the familiar “Q” symbol is being dropped. Hence the removal of the sign in Blanchardstown.

A full rebrand, most likely using the Liberty name in some form, is expected next year.

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Public relations supremo Ray Gordon has added to his stable of ex-journalists by hiring David Clerkin, a former markets editor with the Sunday Business Post.

More recently, Clerkin was head of communications at National Irish Bank, but he left that role in June.

He will join Gordon MRM as a consultant at the end of this month.

Clerkin will work on Gordon’s financial services clients, who include the National Treasury Management Agency, the National Asset Management Agency, Irish Life Permanent, and the Irish Stock Exchange.

Gordon MRM already draws on the services of Brendan McGrath, once of this parish, and Kieran Garry, a former current affairs radio producer.

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For Leinster fans, it’s long been a case of “In BOD (Brian O’Driscoll) we Trust”. For the team’s players, however, its more a case of in BDO we trust.

The accounting firm just inked a deal with Leinster Rugby to become its official business adviser.

BDO has a dedicated sports advisory unit, advising many of our most prominent clubs and stars, including Leinster’s players.

On foot of this agreement, BDO plans to double the number of staff in its sports advisory team.