Mike is all work and no play

We know that chief executives have tight diaries and with the credit crunch they now have more than enough work to keep them from sitting idle behind their desks, squeezing stress balls, raking the mini zen garden and planning their next holiday to Spain.

But, Insider was a bit taken aback when we were recently told by a press manager that their chief executive's diary was so tightly packed over the next nine months that it would be impossible to set up an interview with him. For those of you wondering, the very busy man is Mark Hodges, chief executive of Norwich Union. Considering that nine months is a very specific time frame, Insider might just suggest he take some maternity leave.