Matt Davies

Commanding an eye-watering £955m price tag when it was sold to KKR this year, Pets at Home signalled the beginning of a year of deals, and catapulted chief executive Davies into the limelight. A more enthusiastic and good-natured retail boss would be hard to come by, but the dog lover is more than just a Mr Nice Guy - he is a formidable retailer. In the year to March 2009, the 259-store chain notched up £70m EBITDA on turnover of £404.2m.

Davies’ love for the product and his ability to motivate staff has much to do with the chain’s success. The stores are fun and the service top notch. Its first national TV ad campaign launched in September should help improve brand awareness. With the energetic Davies at the helm, Pets at Home is on its way to becoming a household name.