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Who's in and who's out?
Simon Davis, Evening Standard7 Jan 2008
The energy of London is nowhere more reflected than in the shifting balance of power among its thoughtmakers, trendsetters and leaders. Each week in the Evening Standard, Simon Davis looks at who's in and who's out...
POWER PLAYERS
IN: RATAN TATA, 70
TATA SONS, CHAIRMAN
The Indian behemoth company has interests across the world in many fields. It has now emerged as frontrunner to buy Jaguar from Ford which would give it a surer foothold over here. It bought the Dutch-Anglo steel giant Corus last year. Nothing moves without Tata's say so and he is a member of Gordon Brown's advisory board of international businessman. Global clout.
DOWN: BRIAN PADDICK, 49
LONDON MAYORAL CANDIDATE
A poll puts him at just seven per cent, way behind Ken and Boris, so he needs a turbocharged campaign launch - and a decent website - if he is to be a serious contender.
WOBBLER
KEITH JONES, 43
PC WORLD UK, MD
London's biggest electrical store chain, with immense power, had a shocking time over Christmas. DSG, the company that owns PC World and Currys, has warned that profits will be down by £50 million. There are plans to change the look of the stores but the Goliath's knees look shaky.
ON THE UP
DASHA ZHUKOVA, 24
Many assumed Roman Abramovich's girlfriend would be a fling, leaving less of a mark on London society than Andriy Shevchenko has on Chelsea. But she has kept her man and is now a fixture in social London. She has a sharp brain too.
ON THE MONEY
ADELE ADKINS, 19
SINGER
Last year this column pinpointed the young south London "smoky soul" singer as one to watch. She's just been voted top of the Sound of 2008 poll by a panel of 150 broadcasters and critics. Previously they have tipped Kaiser Chiefs, Keane, The Klaxons and Mika.
NEW ON THE LIST
THOM YORKE, 39
RADIOHEAD, SINGER/SONGWRITER
The intriguing musician is a pioneer of distribution and others follow his decisions. He offered Radiohead's last album, In Rainbows, online - giving users the option to pay whatever they saw fit. It averaged £4 and they sold 1.3 million copies. They've now cut a deal with iTunes.
GROWING IMPACT
LUCIE WHITEHOUSE, 32
NOVELIST
The former literary agent launches her first fictional novel this month. It's called The House At Midnight (Bloomsbury) and is being compared with Donna Tartt's brilliant A Secret History. We shall see.
