Chief executive, Waterstone’s

Johnson is presiding over one of the biggest book chains in the country in what has been a tough year for the industry. But he has not shied away from making difficult decisions. This year Waterstone’s cut around 650 jobs, partly because of its new distribution centre. Like its rival WHSmith, Waterstone’s is suffering declining sales, while Borders seeks new investment. It will be interesting to see what the next chapter holds for the book industry, and for Waterstone’s in particular.