Cafe romance leads to nuptials but nothing else percolates down

It can be a grey area: What's business and what is too personal for public consumption.

An example - a recent conversation with Mark Dickens, the Securities and Futures Commission executive director of supervision, market division.

It's Mr Dickens' first appearance in this column, so a brief introduction.

He is the longest-serving senior staff member in the securities watchdog, having joined the commission in 1991, first as senior director of corporate finance and then executive director of enforcement from January 1997.

Mr Dickens took up his current position in April 1999, under a contract that expires at the end of March.

With only two months to run and no announcement on whether he will renew his contract, rumours are rife that he will leave the commission after 14 years.

White Collar tried the direct approach. Mr Dickens' response: 'This is a personal question and I can't comment.'