No. 38 Charles Dunstone, CEO, Carphone Warehouse
Last year's position: Not placed
Why? Starting the 'free' broadband war
Charles Dunstone stirred up a flurry of both media and consumer interest when he announced mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse would start giving away 'free broadband'.
It mattered not a jot that consumers would end up paying more than £20 per month to get the broadband or that Dunstone got clobbered by the ASA for using the word 'free' in advertisements when there was a cost involved - the die was cast and a full-on price war had begun.
This year Dunstone set an agenda in two senses - not only did rivals including Orange and Sky follow suit with free broadband but the offer is arguably the best-known example of telecoms bundling in the UK.
As one Agenda Setters panellist put it: "It's called bundling. It's bleeding obvious. But he's the only one who's had the gumption to do it."
Take a walk down memory lane - and find out who made the Agenda Setters poll over the years:
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--Richard Sykes, Agenda Setters panellist
"My observation is that [kids today] are far more networked and open than any other generation we have ever seen."
--Peter Cochrane, Agenda Setters panellist
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