Two Scots are among those vying to be leader of the pack

TWO Scots are among the five nominees going head-to-head in an X Factor-style public vote to choose the "leader of the year".

Ken McMeikan, chief executive of bakery chain Greggs, and Martin McCourt, inventor Sir James Dyson's right hand man, are up against Jeremy Lascelles from Chrysalis, ASOS's Nick Robertson and Dame Fiona Claire Reynolds from the National Trust.

The quintet has been shortlisted as part of the National Business Awards, sponsored by The Scotsman Conferences. Members of the public have until 28 October to vote for the winner of the Orange leader of the year award.

A judging panel of 25 chief executives and the results from the public vote will carry equal weight in the final decision.

The winner will be announced at the awards dinner on 9 November at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Head of judging Alex Evans said: "The panel of judges are very impressed with the exceptional calibre of the nominees and we look forward to hearing the feedback from the wider business community as part of the public vote."

McMeikan joined Newcastle-based Greggs in 2008 and was tasked with implementing "ambitious" expansion plans.

Dyson chief executive McCourt is credited with overseeing a doubling of operating profits over the past year to 190 million.

The pair of Scots face a stiff challenge from Robertson, co-founder of ASOS, the online clothing retailer that posted a 44 per cent rise in pre-tax profit last year to 20.3m.

Also vying for the public's votes is Lascelles, chief executive of music publisher Chrysalis, which has swung from an operating loss of 1m in 2008 to a profit of 3.3m in 2009.

The final contender is Reynolds, the first female director-general of the National Trust since the conservation body was founded in 1895.

Last year's winner was Peter Marks, chief executive of the Co-operative Group.

l Votes can be cast at: www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk/voteorange