Numbers 21-30
21 David Jones

Chairman, Next and deputy chairman, Morrisons

David Jones made his name when he rode to the rescue of fashion group Next two decades ago, establishing a reputation as one of the most skilful retailers of his time. Now his strengths as a retail doctor have been called upon once again, this time at grocer Morrisons, where he is deputy chairman.

Jones became one of Morrisons' first ever non-executives in the aftermath of its landmark takeover of Safeway. That acquisition has been far from smooth and the City hopes Jones will bring a steadying hand to the authoritarian and maverick style of chairman Sir Ken Morrison. Jones is preparing to bring some independent thinking to bear on the business and recent boardroom changes seem to show his influence is being felt. If Morrisons can pull off a Next-style revival, Jones will be credited with a key role.

Jones has battled with Parkinson's Disease for 20 years, but never let the illness stop him from taking on new challenges. He is one of the most widely admired men in retail.

22 Arthur Ryan

Chairman and managing director, Primark

Ryan, with his white hair combed to one side and his anonymous suits, appears more like a bank manager than a driver of fast, value fashion. Primark may not have the Oxford Street flagship store, but the business has a lot in common with New Look, in that it takes its influences from designers and key trends and brings them to the high street at a more than affordable price.

The chain increased sales by 12 per cent to£448 million in the six months to March 5. Under Ryan's direction, the business is expanding rapidly, backed by its parent conglomerate Associated British Foods.

Last month it bought six sites from the now defunct Allders chain. It has about 120 stores in the UK and Ireland, but its hunger for expansion means the retailer is also one of the frontrunners in the bid for the Littlewoods business. Profits were up last year by 23 per cent to£858 million and its continued growth makes it a serious challenger in the value fashion sector.

23 Lord Sainsbury

Science Minister

After an invitation to join the Government came in July 1998, Lord Sainsbury accepted and transferred control of his business interests, including his stake in the supermarket, to a blind trust.

Should he step down from his unpaid post after the general election, as he is expected to, he can once more access his shares. This puts the business in a whole new game, especially since he is the largest single shareholder.

Lord Sainsbury may well take more of an interest in the supermarket, but with the family's Gatsby Charitable Foundation selling a£130 million stake in the chain in February, the City is speculating that Lord Sainsbury, like his relatives, is preparing to check completely out of the company. With Lord Sainsbury's shares for sale the likes of Bhs chairman Allan Leighton, who is said to be circling, may well swoop.

24 Tom Hunter

Co-founder and partner, West Coast Capital

With billionaire friends in high places, Philip Green and the Reuben brothers to name a few, as well as his own fortune to go shopping with, Hunter is very much an admired name on the high street.

Since selling his first retail enterprise, the sports chain Sports Division, which he built over an 18-year period, to JJB Sports in 1998 for£290 million, Hunter has used his money to invest in a number of companies.

The recent Birthdays and Gadget Shop debacles aside, Hunter's West Coast Capital private equity partnership owns four very healthy mid-size chains. Fashion stores d2, Qube, USC and shoe chain Office all want to expand and Hunter recently bought 20 Etam stores from Green to do just that. West Coast Capital also owns£340 million worth of shopping centre property in a joint venture with Catalyst Capital and Bank of Scotland.

However, Hunter has yet to land a big-name acquisition on the scale of his peers. In 2002, House of Fraser rejected a bid from West Coast Capital and even with the Reuben brothers backing his bid in 2003, Selfridges went to Galen Weston. Commentators say Hunter has not lost heart though and is still searching for another major player to add to his stable.

25 Charles Wilson

Executive director, property, IT and supply chain, M&S

Charles Wilson is to Stuart Rose what yin is to yang, headhunter Fran Minogue [number 49] once observed. Wilson has been Rose's inseparable right hand man for years after they met a decade or so ago. Now a board member at M&S, Wilson is quietly getting to grips with the nuts and bolts of the troubled retailer's business.

The cerebral and retiring Wilson is the ultimate foil to the debonair and sociable Rose. Rose has said: 'We're complementary. He is more back of house; I'm front of house. We span together more than we do individually. It's a case of one and one making three.'

26 Richard Caring

Chairman, International Clothing Designs (Holdings)

Caring's ruthlessly efficient supply business has enabled the concept of fast fashion to flourish on the UK high street, including at his friend Philip Green's Arcadia stable of brands and his Bhs business.

Supply is the core business, but, Caring has spread his fingers into numerous retail-related pies. Caring's fortunes havebeen very much linked to those of Green. Although their friendship is the main reason Caring's name is so high profile outside retail circles, last year's spending spree should shoot him into a league of his own after acquiring the Wentworth golf club for£130 million and the Camden Stables and Canal Market in north London.

Caring bought Whistles in 2001, since snapped up by Baugur last year. In 2003, he invested£1 million in Marks & Spencer shares. With plans for a Wentworth sportswear range this year; Caring is not sitting back on his estimated£300 million personal fortune.

27 John Lovering

Chairman, Debenhams

Buying and selling retail businesses is a way of life for John Lovering. At present, chairman of department store group Debenhams, he is revered in the sector as both a serial deal broker and hands-on operator.

At Homebase, he led one of the most successful European retail buy-outs ever and has seldom put a foot wrong in a string of collaborations with private equity big shots Permira, CVC and Cinven.

Lovering has also demonstrated a knack for nurturing retail businesses, notably bringing value fashion chain Peacocks to market in 1999. He honed his skills at Sears in the 1980s and early 1990s, as finance director and managing director of international operations.

Lovering is also a regular columnist for Retail Week and has been associated with Birthdays, Fired Earth and latterly Aga Foodservice during a 30-year career.

28 Peter Høgsted

UK managing director, Ikea

Ikea's announcement in January this year that it is to assemble a smaller format is the start of a growth process that could see the Swedish-owned business increase its scale and prominence in the UK market.

Ikea UK boss Peter Høgsted will lead the charge taking the 12-store chain, which broke the£1 billion sales barrier last year, into the new ground of smaller, albeit taller stores. Høgsted believes this strategy will enable Ikea to double its store network in three years.

Retail experts are already saying this new direction could steal MFI's furniture market leadership in the future. MFI has just cause for concern, because the massive queues that precipitated rioting at the opening of the Edmonton store in February show, there is a huge demand for Ikea product. However, the retailer has to be careful that its expansion is not at the cost of customer service.

29 Alan Giles

Chief executive, HMV Group

There are not many chief executives who could name the members of indie pop band Razorlight, but thanks to his position and a teenage daughter with whom he shares a passion for alternative music, Alan Giles can.

As head of the UK's largest entertainment retailer, Giles is overseeing expansion at Waterstones book stores and also HMV, through both new stores and its download web site.

HMV posted results in January for the 26 weeks ending October 23 last year, with sales up 3.6 per cent to£760.2 million, including like-for-like sales growth of 1.9 per cent. However, many cannot see the business growing significantly without acquiring another company.

30 Kevin Hawkins

Director-general, British Retail Consortium

It has been a year of intensive lobbying for Hawkins since his appointment to the BRC from his former role as Safeway communications director. Even before he took on the BRC role, Hawkins was an advocate for the whole of the retail sector with frequent appearances on Radio 4's Today show.

This past year he has used his media guile to raise the profile of the organisation, with an aim to get is stature on the same level as the CBI in the eyes of the Government. Hawkins has been particularly vocal in the BRC's response to issues such as retail crime and the national minimum wage in the run up to next week's general election.

Numbers 1-10

Numbers 11-20

Numbers 31-40

Numbers 41-50