69. Stuart Murphy

Job: director of entertainment channels, BSkyB Age: 40 Industry: broadcasting New entry Stuart Murphy launched Sky Atlantic on the back of an expensively acquired HBO catalogue and now heads a £600m quest for original UK programming across Sky1, Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts . Having built its business on sport and films, Murphy is leading the satellite broadcaster's drive to attract new subscribers with homegrown comedy and drama. No pressure then, although he has got no shortage of cash with which to do it. Challenging the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in an area in which it previously largely ignored, Murphy has signed up the likes of Steve Coogan, Ruth Jones and Julia Davis alongside big budget dramas such as Sinbad. The challenge for Sky will be how much it maintains this new investment – not least in the light of its £2.3bn blowout on live Premier League rights . And having signed up a hatful of big names, it is now facing calls to invest in new talent. It's Murphy's call.