Ashley Highfield - Agenda Setters 2008

Name: Ashley Highfield

Title: Project Kangaroo CEO

Position: 7    Last year: 5

Why? Forging ahead with online TV

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• Eric Schmidt
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• Viviane Reding

Since his appearance at number five on the Agenda Setters last year, Highfield has overseen the hugely successful launch of the BBC's online in-demand TV service, iPlayer - then moved onto pastures new.

The iPlayer has established itself as an important BBC brand and represents the crowning achievement in Highfield's efforts to bring Auntie into the digital age.

His impact at the Beeb and beyond is reflected by the fact this is Highfield's fifth consecutive appearance in the Agenda Setters top 10.

One Agenda Setters panellist described Highfield as "a leader in terms of content distribution and participation technologies".

Earlier this year Highfield left his role as BBC director of future media and technology to head up Project Kangaroo - a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 to create a shared on-demand online media player.

While still very much operating 'under the radar', Kangaroo has the potential to start a "revolution in how we view television - it is the next frontier", according to one Agenda Setters panellist.

And with Kangaroo currently under scrutiny from the Competition Commission, the coming year should prove agenda setting for Highfield as he steers the venture from concept to reality.