Congratulations to Henrietta Royle, the former City high-flyer who has run Cass Business School for five years. I hear it will be announced shortly that she is to be promoted as the first chief operating officer of City University London, of which Cass is part.

I once described Royle as “terrifyingly efficient”, which doesn't seem terribly kind but sums her up well. She worked at banks such as NM Rothschild and Barclays de Zoete Wedd before moving to become deputy head of what was then known as British Invisibles.

Her job at City will involve running all the non-academic parts, such as day-to-day fundraising, HR and information services, while raising the profile of sections of the university that are probably under-appreciated, such as the legal and journalism schools.

Do you get a decent pay rise, then, Henrietta? “Let's just say we've had satisfactory negotiations.”

Who will get brush-off by Boris's new broom?

At City Hall in London, the clearout continues in the wake of Boris Johnson's election. They are advertising for new board members at Transport for London, the London Development Agency - where, under the statute that created it, at least half must have had the experience of running a business - and at the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. In all, 15 are wanted at the first two and another couple of non-executives at Fire.

The new Mayor's office assures me that this is standard practice after every election, but I am told that when Ken got his second term in 2004, a certain number re-applied and were reappointed. Interesting to see if Boris wants any of the previous boards back.

— At Canary Wharf, where they plainly take a robust view of prospects for the property market, they are planning a new skyscraper. This is on Churchill Place and is an expansion of a building planned for there, which will now be about 500,000 sq ft. This is not speculative development, the property company insists. “We won't build it until we've got a pre-let.” Apparently, what they do is start with the underground works - car parks, whatever - which takes 18 months. Only when a potential tenant comes along, do they start on the rest. I confess I never knew that.

— The Royal Mail has agreed to delay the closure of the post office at New Bridge Street, near Ludgate Circus, until an innovative scheme to provide an alternative service is tried. The City of London has campaigned against the closure and the idea is to put machines in nearby shops that allow people to frank and post letters. Talks are under way with various retailers and I understand that something similar is planned elsewhere in the country.

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