As a Royal Air Force aviator with a quarter century in and also a current GA background for over a decade, I have to say I've never heard of or met the new Head of GA Unit. The one thing that does worry me is that, in my experience, most Air Traffickers are process monkeys who are not allowed to 'think outside the box' - I do hope my cynicism is poorly placed!
LJ
PS. I agree that Sir John would have been excellent, but probably a bit like Oliver Reid running a vineyard!