Section: News Review Edition: 01 Circulation: 812262 Date: 25 January 2015 Source: ABC Sep 2014 Page: 5,6,7,8 The real powers in the land From morning coffee to evening viewing, political leanings to personal finances, these people have shaped our lives and our ambitions he Debrett’s 500, published in associ- ation with The Sunday Times, recognises the obvious, more thought-provoking choices. And T you don’t get on to this list because you’re one of most influential and inspiring people living and workinginBritaintoday.Itacknowledgespower, the richest people in the land:it’s not about how talent, hard work, brilliance, originality, persist- much money you’ve made, it’s about how you ence, courage and, occasionally, luck: in short, shape the national life and the key national achievement. debates. The list has been compiled by Debrett’s in con- “In years gone by, Debrett’s has always been sultation with expert practitioners and commen- seenassynonymouswithpeerageandprivilege,” tators in each of the categories, including Sunday says Joanne Milner, its chief executive. “This per- Timesjournalists(seepage2fordetails).Debrett’s ception belongs in the past. The future of this certainly has the authority to identify and cele- country lies in social mobility and diversity. brate the most influential people in British society “TheDebrett’s500includespeoplefromawide — it’s been doing so for the best part of 250 years. range of ethnic and socio-economic back- It started with an annual register, The Peerage, grounds. But there’s work to be done if future lists back in 1769, and has followed this since the early are to be increasingly diverse. Sadly, all the fig- 1980s with People of Today, reflecting and regu- ures show that Britain is becoming less, not more, larly updating what it identifies as the key figures meritocratic. in our society for reasons other than their social “This is why last year Debrett’s launched The origin. Foundation, a development programme estab- All the people in the Debrett’s 500 were scruti- lished to deliver training and networks to strong nised for their level of influence in shaping the academic achievers from less privileged back- lives, choices and ideas of others. That could be grounds. Over the past 12 months, more than 100 wielding hard power: controlling budgets, poli- young people have been trained through cies, financial systems, even armies. Or they may Debrett’s Academy and will soon be entering the exercise the ‘soft power’ whose impact is clear in world of work on a level footing with those who the world around us, as sporting heroes and other have enjoyed more advantageous starts in life.It’s inspiring role models and communicators. Then so important that young people know how to there are the creative artists, inventors, entrepre- address and engage with business colleagues and neurs, visionaries and shopkeepers whose ideas interviewers in the right way.” have had a real, sometimes unexpected, impact Milner adds: “Debrett’s is committed to The on our everyday lives. Foundation and will continue to invest in it. We Some of the names included here might not be hope it will help fill future lists of high-achievers among your favourites, but love them or loathe with even more self-made people.” them (or have never heard of them), they are here Perhaps that’s to be expected, given her own because they deserve to be called influential: we story: “People are often surprised that the boss of congratulate them all. Debrett’s, an organisation they associate with the You might ask why every politicalparty leader, traditional idea of the Establishment, is a woman cabinet minister and national newspaper editor — and one from a normal family background in in the country isn’t in these pages. That’s because the north of England.” the influence inherent in their positions is a given — leaving them out opened up the space for less Ref: 95206491 The contents of the publication from which these extracts have been taken are copyright works and without prior permission or save as permitted by statute may not be copied or otherwise reproduced (even for internal purposes) or resold. Section: News Review Edition: 01 Circulation: 812262 Date: 25 January 2015 Source: ABC Sep 2014 Page: 5,6,7,8 BROADCASTING David Abraham, chief executive, Channel 4, made his name and innovated the reality format with hits including when his rebranding of UKTV channels, including Secret Millionaire, Wife Swap, Faking It and Dave, brought in millions of viewers. Gogglebox. Richard Allen-Turner and Jon Thoday, joint managing directors, Melanie Leach, chief executive, Twofour Group, independent Avalon Entertainment, a talent agency also involved in producer that made Educating Yorkshire. television production and distribution. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, presenters, the Geordie Sir David Attenborough, naturalist and broadcaster, uses his double act continue to rake in ratings and awards status as national treasure to speak out on global fronting Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity. warming and overpopulation. Charlotte Moore, controller, BBC1, where her content Danny Cohen, director of television, BBC, oversees all four budget of £1bn gives her more financial muscle of the BBC’s main channels along with BBC Films than any other channel controller. and the BBC archive. Stuart Murphy, director of entertainment channels, Sky, Adam Crozier, chief executive, ITV, an experienced exec, oversees Sky1, Sky Living, Sky Arts and Sky (Saatchi & Saatchi, the FA and the Royal Mail), Atlantic, and brought Game of Thrones to the Crozier has put the station back in profit with shows broadcaster. including Downton Abbey and Mr Selfridge. Graham Norton, comedian and television presenter, fronted Jeremy Darroch, chief executive, Sky, where he is credited some of Channel 4’s highest-rated shows before with taking subscriptions to over 10m since his taking the BBC 1 Friday-night slot from Jonathan appointment in 2007. Ross, and succeeding Terry Wogan to front the Chris Evans, radio and television presenter and Eurovision Song Contest. producer, has matured from enfant terrible Ashley Tabor, founder and chief executive, Global into a blue-chip broadcasting brand with Radio, the UK’s largest commercial radio around 10m listeners on Radio 2 and 5m group runs Classic FM, Heart, Capital and viewers on The One Show. LBC, reaching 20m listeners a week. Peter Fincham, director of television, ITV, launched Sophie Turner Laing, chief executive, Endemol Shine Ali G and Alan Partridge for Talkback; at ITV Group, left Sky last year after a decade in he gave the go-ahead for the Jimmy Savile charge of content to head the ‘mega-indie’ exposé. production company created by the merger Lord Hall, director-general, BBC, Tony Hall of Endemol, Shine and Core Media. has to steer the broadcaster Sharon White, chief executive, Ofcom, through licence-fee career civil servant daughter of negotiations. Jamaican immigrants, hailed as a Jay Hunt, chief creative officer, breath of fresh air at the Channel 4, one of the most regulator. powerful women in Ben McOwen Wilson, head of broadcasting, the former BBC content partnerships, YouTube, exec is responsible for pioneer at the next frontier generating crucial ad revenues. of broadcasting, shows Stephen Lambert, founder and chief how to use the flexibility of executive, Studio Lambert, has defined Graham Norton new media. Ref: 95206491 The contents of the publication from which these extracts have been taken are copyright works and without prior permission or save as permitted by statute may not be copied or otherwise reproduced (even for internal purposes) or resold. Section: News Review Edition: 01 Circulation: 812262 Date: 25 January 2015 Source: ABC Sep 2014 Page: 5,6,7,8 EDUCATION Professor Sonia Blandford, founder and education programmes. chief executive, All 3, a charity that Russell Hobby, general secretary, NAHT, aims to give deprived children the union that represents heads educational aspiration. and school leaders. Christine Blower, general secretary, Professor Chris Husbands, director, National Union of Teachers, first Institute of Education, a leading woman to head the country’s teacher-training establishment. biggest teaching union. Sir Peter Lampl, chairman, Sutton Trust, Dame Sally Coates, director, United a charity that promotes social Learning’s Southern Academies, turned mobility and access to education. around London sink school John Latham, provost, University of Law, Burlington Danes; now oversees a private college with sites in 15 academies and free schools. seven cities and an international Dr Kevan Collins, chief executive, intake. Educational Endowment Foundation, Ross Morrison McGill, teacher and aims to make a decent education blogger, Teacher Toolkit, the most accessible to all children popular educational blog in the UK. regardless of background. Lord Nash, schools minister, founder of Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive, a chain of academies, now Ucas, the body that manages responsible for the Education applications to higher education Funding Agency, the Department courses in the UK. for Education Review, school Prof Les Ebdon, director, Fair Access to organisation and governance. Higher Education, leads the Lynne Sedgmore, executive director, 157 government’s drive to get more Group, an association of the largest children from disadvantaged further education colleges. backgrounds into university. Sir Anthony Seldon, teacher and Frank Green, National Schools historian, will step down as head