Book trade top 100 revealed
22.05.09 - The Bookseller

For the first time in its 151-year history, The Bookseller has produced a definitive list of the book trade's elite. Called The Bookseller Century it recognises the UK's 100 most influential people in 2009, including publishers, booksellers, agents, journalists, bloggers and authors.
"This is a significant and long overdue moment for us and for the trade, a rigorous and thought-provoking selection of the decision-makers and innovators that make the book trade tick," said editor-in-chief Neill Denny.
The first of what is to be an annual list was compiled by the magazine's editorial team, led by features editor Tom Tivnan. Entries were selected using four criteria: longevity, influence, innovation and turnover. Tivnan said: "It was a challenge; there is enough top level talent to fill two or three lists. We had to make some hard, difficult choices to whittle it down to 100."

Hachette comes out on top as far as publishers are concerned with nine entries, led by c.e.o. Tim Hely Hutchinson, beating perennial rivals Random House which had seven. Penguin also had seven "Centurions", but add Marjorie Scardino (pic right) and John Fallon from its parent company Pearson, and the Pearson Group equals Hachette.

Nine independent publishers are on the list, including Faber's Stephen Page, Canongate's Jamie Byng, and Stieg Larsson's publisher, Christopher MacLehose, plus three independent booksellers: James Daunt, Torbay Bookshop owner Matthew Clarke and Foyles' c.e.o. Sam Husain.

Overall, there are 15 booksellers, 34 publishers and seven agents. Twenty-eight of the entries are women.
The Bookseller Century