If the rumours about John Thompson are correct then it's yet another sign that sense is returning to government.

Over the years I've had a fair few chats with Thompson and he's very impressive. A quick thinker who doesn't weasel his way out of tough questions by resorting to platitudes (although he's quite happy to good-naturedly say no) and gives the questioner the impression that he's thinking about what he does.

His record is even better. He joined Symantec in 1999 just as the internet bubble was about to burst. Unlike many chief executives of the time, who hung around for a few years, mucked things up and then collected a golden parachute and bailed, Thompson actually grew Symantec into the market leader it is today.

All in all, with the economic situation getting gloomier by the second, I think he'd do a fine job. 

29 Jan 2009