The subsequent report, "Outsiders and Insiders", concluded that the senior civil service "should take appropriate measures to reduce its reliance on external recruitment, not least because outside appointees do not appear to perform better than career civil servants - despite being paid more".

BBC: Do you need a copper to inspect the cops?

These sentiments were reflected by Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, who said recruitment of international students operated "entirely outside these domestic limits".

BBC: Willetts warns universities over foreign student grades

Second, the recruitment of Mahoney can be expected to inject some welcome outside thinking into Chevrolet marketing.

FORBES: Mahoney Leaps From VW To Head Chevy Global Marketing