I interviewed the departing Acas chair Rita Donaghy earlier this week. She is stepping down after seven years in the job and a long career in employment relations.
She was sorting through papers and clearing her desk as I arrived, ready for her replacement Ed Sweeney to take over from next week.
Speak to senior human resources or employment experts and none of them will have a bad word to say about Rita, and after meeting her I can see why.
She is like a kindly relative of a certain age, puts you at ease immediately and speaks very eloquently about the world of work.
Aunty Rita was happy to answer my questions about the changing face of employment relations, the future of Acas, changes to dispute resolution procedures and what the big challenges for her successor would be.
But don't let that gentle exterior fool you. I tried to quiz her on the ongoing postal dispute, and the role of Acas in attempting to broker a deal, and was met by a steely gaze and a firm "no comment".
I must admit I blinked first and quickly looked down to my notebook to find another question. I asked again later, trying a different tact, but the result was exactly the same: I was getting absolutely nada from her on that topic.
Anyway, I'm sure the HR world hasn't seen the last of Rita - even though she insisted she wouldn't be trying her hand at consultancy.
Expect her to pop up on various committees or government reviews in the future. Experience like hers should not be disregarded.
