Jean-François Théodore The deputy chief executive of NYSE Euronext, who spent many years courting Furse and the LSE and was one of her greatest rivals and admirers, said:

"In the male-dominated world of finance and the chess game of exchanges, Clara has been a mastermind, making her break in this world through her strength of character and intelligence. She is a lady and not only a Dame, an iron lady with great charm and sense of humour. She turned down many proposals because she had only London in her mind." Stuart Fraser