THE SHORTLIST:

Winner: Sir John Rose Sir Ronald Cohen Michael Spencer

The 2007 Business winner is: Sir John Rose

Britain has a strong entrepreneurial culture, boasting everything from corner shops to global corporations. This award is for those who have made a significant contribution to the success of a particular business, or business in general, throughout the year.

Sir John Rose - Winner

During 2007, Rolls-Royce continued to broaden its product portfolio; accessed growing global markets, and made substantial new investments in technology. Sir John Rose joined Rolls-Royce plc in 1984 and was appointed to its Board of Directors in January 1992, becoming Chief Executive on 1 May 1996. Sir John is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He is a member of the JP Morgan International Council, the CBI International Advisory Board, the Englefield Advisory Board and is a Trustee of the Eden Project.

External links
Rolls Royce

Sir Ronald Cohen -

In 1971, along with two partners, Cohen founded Apax Partners, Britain's first venture capital firm. The company expanded rapidly in the 1990s, becoming Britain's largest venture capital firm, and ‘one of three truly global venture capital firms.’  Apax provided start-up capital for over 500 companies, and provided money for many others, including AOL, Virgin Radio, Waterstone's, and PPL Therapeutics, the company that cloned Dolly the sheep. As a co-founder and long time CEO of Apax Partners, Sir Ronald has made a tremendous contribution to the development of British venture capital and private equity industry. He continues to set the example for the industry by retiring two years ago at the age of 60 to focus on philanthropic causes such as improving entrepreneurial spirit in rural Britain.

Michael Spencer -

Founder of ICAP the world's largest inter-dealer money broker which trades from 26 offices around the world, Spencer is one of the richest men in Britain worth an estimated £370m. He is also the owner of spread betting firm City Index and the chairman of the stock brokerage Numis Securities. Last year the firm raised £4.2m for a clutch of charities from Cancer Warriors in the Philippines to the Meningitis Trust in the UK, bringing total donations since 1993 to £22m.

External Links
CAP
Independent Business

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