N.Rock rescue task falls to troubleshooter Sandler

By Steve Slater

LONDON (Reuters) - Ron Sandler rescued the London insurance market from the brink of collapse to forge a reputation as a trouble-shooter, but faces an altogether tougher task to revive Northern Rock and save government credibility.

Sandler was named last month as the government's choice to lead Northern Rock if it was nationalized, and the government confirmed on Sunday it was putting the bank into temporary public ownership. For details click on.

Nationalization was chosen after the last two suitors to rescue the bank failed to meet terms set out by the government at the same time as putting in place a commercial solution.

That gives Sandler, 55, his biggest challenge yet. But it also shows the scale of the task ahead.

It will also be conducted in the eye of the media after fierce criticism of the government's handling of the Northern Rock crisis since it erupted six months ago.

Sandler carries a German passport and spent his childhood in Zimbabwe before moving to England.

He will visit the bank's hometown of Newcastle in northeast England on Monday to meet some of its 6,000 staff and lay out his plans to stabilize business.

Other immediate tasks will include restoring a brand hit by six months of bad publicity; rebuilding support from financial markets, advisers and the local community; and developing a long-term plan -- notably how far to shrink its mortgage book.