So often in business, as in life, history repeats itself. And so the fact that listed education provider Ashley Services Group has named Stewart Cummins as its next chief executive means that board of directors must really have its hands around a full chamber pot. Which, as former CFO of waste management group Transpacific, is Cummins' bread and butter.

Cummins was most recently CEO at Vocation, where he reduced its debt by 92 per cent and presided over the restructuring of its portfolio, the assembly of a new management team and significant revenue growth. Oh and also the company's extinction!