News from Farringdon Point makes it pretty obvious that a new-look BPIF is beginning to emerge. Or should that be a new- new-look.

While Michael Johnson remains in charge until the summer, it seems unimaginable that a decision as significant as making the role of commercial director Richard Gray redundant could be taken without the say-so of chief executive designate Kathy Woodward.

The departures of Gray (redundant) and corporate affairs director Andrew Brown (retirement) marks the loss of two of the federation's go-to people who really know their stuff. While their collective know-how will still be available in an advisory form, I'm sure BPIF insiders and members alike will miss these two being on the end of the phone on a day-to-day basis.

Life, as always, moves on. I've just been re-reading the BPIF AGM notes from last year, which state: "The continued challenges of the economy, the accelerating structural changes in the industry, the opportunities and risks of partnership and consolidation were critical factors that would define the future of the BPIF and these were coming to a head in the coming year." Quite.