The poacher who turned gamekeeper

Hector Sants was the man brought in to clean up the City as head of its watchdog.

His appointment as chief executive of the Financial Services Authority could not have been worse timed. Within two months of taking over in July last year, the Northern Rock crisis was blowing up in his face. There has never been a dull moment since for the 51-year-old.

His rise through the corporate ranks has been stellar. With a psychology and philosophy degree from Oxford, he was made a partner at stockbroker's Phillips & Drew while still in his twenties. By the age of 32, he was head of equities and vice chairman of UBS before moving on to become chief executive of Europe, Middle East and Africa for Credit Suisse First Boston.

The City may have hailed him as "one of us". But his actions in curbing the short-sellers prove he is no soft touch.