Brightest entrepreneur

Love him or not Peter Cullum is famed throughout the insurance industry as one of its brightest entrepreneurs, and his success has certainly paid him handsomely. As the not-so-old saying goes there are 'haves' and 'have yachts' and Cullum has found himself comfortably in the latter bracket. However, his relative fame and fortune has held little truck with his disapproving neighbours in the garden of England. Apparently one neighbour - Barrie Etchells, who features in this month's Broking Success, had Overheard that some Kent residents at one stage were "unsure whether he would fit in" and "not at all convinced of his suitability". The burning question of why his neighbours held such reservations offered some fascinating possibilities; did Cullum possess a bling alter-ego perhaps - complete with pimped-cars and grand-pianos-in-the-swimming-pool parties? The answer when it came wasn't quite as glamourous as we had hoped - as the neighbours were in fact getting a bit miffed that it took him three noisy years to finish numerous extensions to his home.

Etchells also bumped into, up-for-trial, ex-Independent boss Philip Condon in Sainsbury's recently. We are sure Etchells mentally noted how the tables had turned since the time when Indie cancelled Belmont's agency but thought the fact that Condon seemed to be buying a cooked goose was not prophetically significant.

Speaking of ambitious men, Professional Broking was delighted that Axa CEO Peter Hubbard completely failed to live up to common perceptions of him as a measured, 'cards close to the chest' type of guy while being interviewed for this edition's cover. Incidentally, while relaying this pleasant discovery to one close PB broker contact he concurred: "Yes, I have noticed that about Peter recently, he seems very chilled - I don't know what he has been smoking." Obviously Overheard would like to state categorically that we are not suggesting for one minute that Hubbard partakes, or has any need of any false stimulus. Smiling naturally for the camera Hubbard remarked that, at a recent dinner on climate change, he sat next to Steve Verrall's wife and the conversation turned to a common talking point between the two - their children. Apparently Mrs Verrall at one point exclaimed that she couldn't believe that Hubbard had a 22 year old son. Hubbard, who was absolutely delighted by the flattery, responded by saying she could come for dinner every night if she was going to make comments like that. Overheard thought brokers would appreciate the tip off about this weak point of entry should they find themselves in a situation where Hubbard reverts to (stereo) type.