Once upon a time, city bosses were called town clerks.
They were solemn, serious lawyers, usually in late middle age, who never took risks.
How times change. The new chief executive of Brighton and Hove is David Panter, an openly gay, trendy 39-year old with a radical vision for the city.
Old-style town clerks would rather have been seen dead than wearing four earrings as Mr Panter does.
But they would probably not have had the courage to make controversial changes in hospitals as he did in a previous job.
Mr Panter has also made a brave career move from health to local government.
He arrives in Brighton and Hove at a crucial time when the resort is trying to be European City of Culture and may choose to have a directly-elected mayor.
The current chief executive, Glynn Jones, has made a huge and largely welcome impact on the city. Let's hope David Panter will do the same if not even better.
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