IT is thought that Philippe Varin first came to the attention of Corus bosses while negotiating a £543m deal for their aluminium business.

Mr Varin, then senior executive vice-president at French-owned Pechiney, was in talks with the struggling steelmaker as it made a final bid to streamline its multi-metals approach.

Despite that deal floundering - the Dutch supervisory board vetoed the sale - the 50-year-old father-of-four was still hired to replace chief executive Tony Pedder, who left Corus after yet another year of disastrous results.

One expert said: "The Corus board must have been impressed by his negotiating skills and thought it was about time they turned this poacher into a gamekeeper."

The appointment signalled the departure of Sir Brian Moffat, the accountant who clung on at the top of the Anglo-Dutch company despite the vocal opposition of his workforce.

The chairman's seat will be filled by Jim Leng, Sir Brian's former deputy.

All eyes will now be on Mr Varin to see if the diplomacy that so impressed Corus management will work in the office politics which span The Channel.

There is now no love lost between the Dutch and UK arms of the company - a fractious relationship highlighted by the UK arm going to court to try to force through the aluminium sale against Dutch wishes.

Healing the rift will require a balancing act from Varin to rival his countryman, Charles Blondin, who famously crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope on June 30, 1859.

Charles Kernot, of BNP Paribas, said: "If there is anyone who can break down the stand-off, it should be him."

That, it would seem, is the major advantage the new boss enjoys. He is French, and as such, cannot be accused of favouring one side of the business over the other.

He also has experience of the machinations of monolithic, state-controlled industries.

Jonathan Aylen, senior lecturer at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and an expert on the steel industry, said: "He is familiar with industries that are relics of state intervention. Pechiney has some similarities with Corus on that front."

But one chink in his armour may be his limited knowledge of steel.

Accountant Sir Brian was accused of having more interest in figures than steel during his time with the company. Mr Varin will have to prove that his interests lie closer to the core product - and the only way to prove that will be to turn the failing business around.