41. Murdoch MacLennan

Job: chief executive, Telegraph Media Group Age: 62 Industry: publishing, digital media Turnover: £323m Staff: 1,00 2010 ranking: 17 As the dust settles on his power battle with Will Lewis, which saw the former Daily Telegraph editor leave for News International last year, Murdoch MacLennan drifts back down the MediaGuardian 100. The former Associated Newspapers managing director, who joined the Telegraph group in 2004 after its acquisition by the Barclay twins, presided over another high-profile departure in May when his shooting chum and columnist Simon Heffer left. Buoyed by yet another year of profit increases, MacLennan is mulling over how to make news pay online. He is said to be considering a "light touch" paywall, with users allowed a generous amount of free browsing before being charged. MacLennan's year is likely to be remembered for the Telegraph scoop that never was, after the paper failed to report comments by Vince Cable about Rupert Murdoch, only for the BBC's Robert Peston to reveal them instead . His status as one of the most influential UK newspaper bosses was confirmed last autumn when, to celebrate Telegraph Media Group executive director Guy Black's peerage, MacLennan succeeded in gathering half of the MediaGuardian 100 for dinner at the Garrick Club. The Daily Mail's Paul Dacre, Sunday Times editor John Witherow, Daily Mirror editor Richard Wallace, former Cameron spin doctor Andy Coulson and News International's Rebekah Brooks all paid their respects to both Black and MacLennan.