Branson is most admired business achiever

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Group, has yet again emerged as British businessesí favourite business achiever.

The 160 finalists and 60 judges in the 2005 National Business Awards were asked to name the business achiever (living or dead) that they most admired. Branson heads the annual Top Ten for the third successive year, after reaching third in 2002.

Dame Anita Roddick, who jumped to fourth from eighth place last year, continues to be the only woman to have appeared in the list.

Out this year went Sir Terry Leahy, Steve Jobs and Stelios Haji-Ioannou. Returning to list from previous years were Walt Disney, Michael Gerber and Sir Joseph Roundtree. There were no debut appearances this year.

The 2005 Top Ten Business Achievers:

1. Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Group)
2. Bill Gates (Microsoft)
3. Henry Ford
4. Dame Anita Roddick (The Body Shop)
5. Jack Welsh
6. Sir John Harvey-Jones
7. Walt Disney
8. Philip Green (Arcadia)
9. Michael Gerber
10. Sir Joseph Roundtree

The National Business Awards 2005, sponsored by Orange, will be announced on Tuesday 8th November before and audience of 1200 business leaders, opinion formers and VIPs at Grosvenor House, Park Lane.

2005 finalists include: Peter Erskine (O2), Diane Thompson (Camelot), Ted Tuppin (Enterprise Inns), Cadbury Schweppes, BHP Billiton, Experian, Friends Reunited, GAP, Honda, ASDA, Currys, Charlton Athletic Football Club, The Body Shop, Barclays, Penguin Books and The Royal Bank of Scotland.