Current Account notes an unwanted gong awarded to former Greencore chief executive, Kilkenny man Gerry Murphy, by the Investors Chronicle. He is one of a group of seven dubbed the worst company heads in the UK.

Gerry Murphy hardly set the world alight at Greencore when he was brought in after the Talmino debacle, and was involved in a failed effort to bring in American food giant Archer Daniels Midland as a 25 per cent shareholder and strategic partner. After a few years at Greencore, he jumped ship to run Exel before taking over as chief executive of media group Carlton Communications.

So why has Gerry incurred the scorn of the IC, and why has he won a gong that is unlikely to adorn his mantle? The IC list is based on missed opportunities, poor strategy and decline in shareholder value. Gerry joined the group of seven mainly on the back of the disaster that is ITV Digital, the joint venture between Carlton and Granada, which is watched by numbers so small they are difficult to measure.

Pity the IC doesn't cast its eye over the performance of Irish chief executives. Current Account could think of a couple of CEOs who would surely qualify for the gong of "worst company head in Ireland" based on the criteria used by the IC.