Boris and his Imperial advances

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, the well-connected former principal of the faculty of medicine at Imperial College London, is reported to be rising fast. Having turned down an approach for the position of director of research at the Department of Health, Sir Leszek - or Boris as he is known to his medic friends - is taking over as deputy rector at Imperial. But this may be just a stepping stone. Rumour has it that Sir Richard Sykes, the college's famously elitist vice-chancellor, is grooming Sir Leszek to step into his shoes, while he moves on to chair of the board of governors.