Hoggard said he had been a loyal servant to the county and was upset at not being given the chance of a proper farewell.

BBC: Yorkshire release furious Hoggard

He had been a senior civil servant in the pre-war government, specialising in financial matters.

ECONOMIST: Maurice Couve de Murville

He said a special adviser was a "special person" who had status as senior civil servant, had access to all governmental papers and who advised at the highest levels.

BBC: Finance Committee

Unfortunately for its new shareholders, chairman Jacques Friedmann was a longtime civil servant who knew little about the insurance business -- before uap he had run state-owned Air France and Compagnie Gnrale Maritime.

FORBES: AXA aims at AIG