C&binet Ambassadors ranked in MediaGuardian 100

Valerie | 14 Jul 2009, 08:14

The Guardian has published its annual rankings of the most powerful people in the media, digital and entertainment businesses, based on their cultural, economic and political influence in the UK.

The 2009 MediaGuardian 100 reveals that amidst the current economic downturn which has seen unprecedented upheaval over the past year, Google’s co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have held onto the top spot for the second consecutive year, confirming its position as the world’s most powerful media brand.

There was also good news for c&binet ambassadors including the chairman and chief executive of Universal Music, Lucian Grainge (33), Channel 4 chief executive, Andy Duncan (24) and Nicholas Coleridge of Conde Nast (58) who all maintained their places in the top 100. 

The list also includes a number of key advisors to c&binet, including Patrick McKenna, chief executive of Ingenious Media Group (36),  John Smith, chief executive of BBC Worldwide (31) and BBC director general Mark Thompson (2).

2009 also sees new Culture Minster Ben Bradshaw debut in the list, who the Guardian notes is “perfectly placed at number 50” but could be “one of next year’s biggest risers”.

Other prominent new entries this year include Jason Kilar, the chief executive of the US video-on-demand website Hulu (19); Daniel Ek, the co-founder of the music website Spotify and advertising guru Rory Sutherland (32).

But despite the dominance of digital brands in previous years, the addition of News International’s new CEO, Rebekah Brooks (nee Wade) and Will Lewis, the Telegraph titles’ editor-in-chief who broke into the top 10 this year signals that traditional media is not to be written off yet.

The evolving digital landscape and its implications for the future of the content industries will be a key theme for the c&binet forum in October, which will see creative business leaders address IP challenges, the development of new business models and future creative cash flow set against a backdrop of the economic downturn.