14. JONATHAN SMITH
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TITLE Chief executive
ORGANISATION Yodel Great livery; not sure about the name; and let's see how the strategy plays out: that's our take on Yodel, led by chief executive Jonathan Smith.
A year ago, Smith was MD of DHL Domestic Express and wouldn't have made this list, but then £325m-turnover parcels specialist Home Delivery Network took over the DHL domestic delivery arm during last year's festive period, doubling the business overnight, with Smith stepping up to the top job.
And now Yodel has set its sights on a E1bn turnover within a few years. But let's not get carried away: the two businesses need to be fully integrated and the initial failure of the Target/City Link pairing is something Smith and his team must avoid.
The only sour note in an otherwise landmark year was the recent brush with BBC's Watchdog (CM 25 November).