Who will be making the news in the coming year?

Published on Saturday 26 December 2009 13:50

Here's our guide to the ones to watch.

1 David Nish, chief executive, Standard Life

The long succession plan for Sir Sandy Crombie was finally resolved with the appointment of the long-time favourite for the job, prompting questions about why it took so long. Investors and policyholders will hope that the wait has been worth it. Nish may be short of experience in the life and pensions sector but he may bring about a fresh approach to the company as it moves closer to becoming a more general manager of money. He was a well-regarded finance director at ScottishPower and quickly adapted to the complexities of his new job. Expect an early decision on hiring a UK Life and Pensions boss, the position that Crombie took on when Trevor Matthews left.

2 Jackie Hunt, interim chief financial officer, Standard Life

Hunt joined Standard Life at the turn of the year from Aviva's Norwich Union Insurance, where she was CFO. Following David Nish's appointment as CEO she is in pole position to get the job full-time, thus providing a new top team for the next decade and one of the new generation of senior female directors in Scotland. She will attend board meetings as group CFO, but will not officially be appointed to the board. There was surprise that Hunt was made only interim CFO, though that could be to do with the handover from Crombie to Nish. There is also the suspicion Standard Life wants more assurances. The next CFO or FD will be its fourth in almost as many years.

3 Benny Higgins, chief executive, Tesco Bank

Higgins could almost be accused of playing down the bank's expansion plans, by saying he's focusing on Tesco customers and has little interest in buying high street branches being sold by his struggling rivals. But with the power of one of Britain's most successful companies behind him he'll be well positioned to roll-out the bank's operations when it suits. He's already confirmed that it will move into mortgages next year. Higgins has the government on his side as he represents one of the new breed of banks that it wants to encourage.

4 Michel Barnier, European commissioner for financial services

The former French agriculture minister will oversee regulation of markets but his appointment has prompted divisions among the member states. Some fear Barnier will promote French interests at the expense of others, notably the City of London. Their concerns were heightened by the comments of French president Nicolas Sarkozy who spoke of Barnier's appointment as a "defeat for Anglo Saxon capitalism". The man Barnier replaces, Charlie McCreevy, last week warned that France will use his successor to advance French interests.

5 Marc Bolland, chief executive, M&S

Marks & Spencer's shares rose 6

per cent when news broke that it had poached the Dutchman from supermarket chain Morrisons. He rescued the Bradford-based business from its disastrous takeover of Safeway which led to five profits warnings. Bolland stole market share from his rivals, partly by breaking into the south of England and taking on the likes of Waitrose in the premium product ranges. He now has to lift food and fashion sales at M&S while leading a top team that includes three who wanted the job. Watch out for more boardroom changes.

6 Alasdair Gardner, head of Lloyds Banking Group large corporate division

Gardner will lead this new division at Lloyds, targeting companies with turnover in excess of 15 million in a move seen as a clear attempt to distance itself from the legacy of serial deal-maker Peter Cummings. Gardner said he has "made sure we've learned lessons from what we've been through". He stressed that the bank is now "open for business" to lend to the right companies. Under the leadership of Cummings, Bank of Scotland Corporate made a number of high-risk loans to businesses and invested large sums in companies in the commercial property sector.

7 Alan Brown, chief executive, Cala Group

After serving almost 20 years with the company, Brown was appointed founder Geoff Ball's successor in September and takes over as the company emerges from what Ball described as "the most difficult conditions the industry has encountered since Cala began housebuilding some 30 years ago". In delayed accounts for 2007-08 the company turned in a 266m pre-tax loss including writedowns. So, it will be Brown's job to put all that behind him. There are signs of life in the housing market and new bank funding is in place, but it will be a slow road to recovery, and finding the right skills when they're needed could become an added challenge.

8 Dean Finch, chief executive, National Express

Former FirstGroup high-flier Finch found himself in demand in 2009, joining London Underground contractor Tube Lines in the summer and then being poached just before Christmas by beleaguered transport company National Express to become its chief executive. Finch, 43, will join the rail, bus and coach operator in the early spring and will be hoping that by then conditions are improving after a turbulent few months following the loss of its east coast rail franchise. It has also faced takeover approaches and union action. The firm will hope that Finch, once tipped to succeed Sir Moir Lockhead at FirstGroup, will be the man to turn things round.

9 Lena Wilson, chief executive, Scottish Enterprise

A somewhat predictable choice, but in October Wilson got the job she's coveted and will now spearhead the government's economic development plans. Her controversial 220,000 salary and potential bonus package makes her one of the highest paid public servants in the UK, higher than the prime minister. So she has to prove she has what it takes or the critics will be waiting to pounce. Almost certainly she'll appoint a chief executive to replace herself at Scottish Development International, but less certain is that she'll hire anyone to her former role as chief operating officer for the network.

10 John March, founder and chief executive of BigDNA

After beefing up its expertise and opening a bigger vaccine production facility in the past 12 months, BigDNA looks set for further expansion in the year ahead. Founder Dr John March has added four staff over the past year to take the Roslin-based vaccine company's headcount to 12 and recruited noted molecular geneticist Professor Noreen Murray to sit on his advisory panel, which guides the business in its decision-making. March will be looking to build on his recent success at the Nexxus Awards, where BigDNA scooped the prize for most promising young life science company.