The energy of London is nowhere more reflected than in the shifting balance of power among its thoughtmakers, trendsetters and leaders. Each week, Gideon Spanier looks at who's in and who's out.

ONE TO WATCH

SPORT
GILES CLARKE, 54
ENGLAND CRICKET BOARD CHAIRMAN
Elected last year to run English and Welsh cricket, Clarke's pedigree is in selling pet food and wine. Now the former investment banker is facing a power struggle with the leading English counties, which want to launch a version of India's Twenty20 competition here - with or without Clarke's support. If he fails to re-establish control, his job could be on the line.

MAKING MOVES

NEW MEDIA
OLIVER SCHUSSER, 30s
EUROPEAN DIRECTOR, APPLE
Top executive of US computer giant Apple who has been heavily involved in the launch of the new 3G iPhone. His chief responsibility is as European director of Apple's iTunes service and he has persuaded top artists to take part in this month's iTunes music festival in London. Babyfaced Schusser is known as a tough operator.

FINANCE
ADAIR TURNER, 52
INCOMING FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN
Well-connected financial guru has been close to New Labour and is a climate-change adviser for ministers, yet he has been notably cool in his support for new road tax proposals. Cambridge-educated Turner wants London to do more for cyclists and eco-cars. His real influence is in the City - he'll be responsible for market stability when he becomes FSA chairman in September.

UNDER PRESSURE

POLITICS
DAMIAN MCBRIDE, 32
PM'S ADVISER ON POLITICAL PRESS
Loyal spin doctor is feeling the heat with Gordon Brown able to do little right as far as the media is concerned. A case in point was Brown urging Britons to cut food waste, before tucking into an eight-course banquet at the G8 summit. McBride is good company in private but enemies have dubbed him "McPoison".

TV & RADIO
MICHAEL GRADE, 65
ITV EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Facing an uncomfortable time at ITV, where the forecast is that advertising bookings will slide in the critical September selling period. Grade's showbusiness chutzpah has inspired ITV troops but the City has been underwhelmed. The share price is down more than 60 per cent since he took over 18 months ago.

UP AND COMING

TV & RADIO
GLORIA DE PIERO, 35
GMTV POLITICAL EDITOR
Scored a notable coup during an interview with Gordon Brown for the New Statesman when he cheerfully admitted he was like Emily Brontë's broody anti-hero Heathcliff. Until now De Piero has put up with a punishing daily schedule of live reports from Downing Street for the breakfast news broadcaster but is tipped for greater things. She may be a serious journalist but that did not stop lads' mag FHM putting her on its list of 100 sexiest women.

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