He's an intelligent man and a good thinker - in fact he'd make a great Yorkshireman!I admire his direct, pragmatic approach to business. Duncan is a man with vision and stature and very clear, very good ideas. Alongside us and Eastern, ScottishPower has spearheaded the opening up of the world electricity market.Furthermore, at forums he is a major contributor - really hands-on. He has always stood out as a bit of a figurehead for me - he is always at the forefront of things in terms of the power market.Graham HallChief Executive,Yorkshire ElectricityI think, were I to chose one person in the industry who impresses me, it would have to be Duncan Whyte of ScottishPower. I've got immense respect for him as a person too.And finally, I have to mention of PowerGen.
He was a major figure in the process of bringing the utilities industry up to date. I think that Roy is a very impressive guy who instigated their recovery from a situation that looked very bad for them.Another man of energy whom I admire is John Devaney who used to head up Eastern Group but left at the end of last year and is currently trying to get a power consortium together. I do think, though, that Centrica with Roy Gardner has recovered tremendously well from their "take-or-pay" problems. Having said that, they've got a good company and a good man heading them up, I reckon they've got the best chance of us all of becoming a key international player.Nick ClarkeChief Executive,Quantum Energy GroupThis is a real teaser as I don't feel that there is anyone who has their head above the crowd, as it were. He too has taken the company to where he said he would, thanks to his focus and determination.ScottishPower with Ian Robinson has also done well - but they have no excuse not to because they are in a part of the country where competition is less vigorous. Then there's Keith Henry of National Power whom I admire even though he's getting a lot of bad press at the moment.
He started from a relatively weak position and has taken the company to exactly where he said that he would. The merger of Southern and Scottish Hydro, very different companies and geographically distant, was a bold and original move that has underlined Jim's consistent ambition to be an important player in the industry.Mike HughesChief Executive,Midlands ElectricityI admire a lot of people within our industry, so it is difficult to single out anyone specific I think I'd have to nominate of PowerGen though. He has built an incredibly strong brand, and he is now realising the dream of running a fully integrated company.Jim Forbes of Scottish and Southern Energy is widely acknowledged as one of the industry's strongest characters. It could not have been easy building the business out of the nationalised Central Electricity Generating Board. He has shown great character in adapting BNFL to the changing environments in which it operates, whilst maintaining the long-term potential of the nuclear industry.I must mention PowerGen's for his determination and decisive action in making PowerGen such a force to be reckoned with.