Gerry Robinson, the chairman of Granada, had a warning for all the ageing business heads thinking of going on the non-executive director circuit when they retire from their full-time positions. Gerry has no such intentions, when he retires from Granada in four years at the age of 55. Being a non-exec is a waste of time he contended in an interview this week: "No one listens to you. You sit on the sidelines".

He intends to return to his native Donegal - to paint, practice carpentry and sail. Sounds much more amenable than ploughing through audit reports and board documents.