5 Rooney Anand Marston's chief executive (8) Ralph Findlay Greene King chief executive (8)

Why they are on the list:

The two super regionals are once again inseparable as both made similar moves to improve quality. The two behemoths have enjoyed a remarkably similar year, taking in purchases, disposals and sponsorship deals.

What the past year has held:

Findlay's company ditched its Wolverhampton

& Dudley moniker in favour of Marston's to reflect its shift from a regional to a national business. Meanwhile, Anand split his managed division in two: locals and destination pubs.

The Suffolk-based company pounced to buy Nottingham-based brewer and operator Hardys & Hansons with an estate of 268 pubs for £271m, while Findlay picked up Eldridge Pope's 153 pubs, at a cost of £155.1m, and 33 sites from Sovereign Inns.

In the drive to improve quality, both off-loaded sites, with Marston's selling 279 bottom-end pubs to Piccadilly Licensed Properties and Greene King flogging 155 to Admiral Taverns.

In terms of results both claimed "record" achievements for 2006 with average profitability on their tenanted estates up 5%.

To cap it off, Findlay and Anand decided to grab an international sports team each with Findlay plumping for a deal to sponsor England cricket and Anand going for England rugby.

Challenges ahead:

Both have splashed out heavily on preparations for the smoking ban, and by off-loading bottom-end pubs have increased the quality of their estates. There may be more transfers from managed to tenanted depending on the effect the ban has on trade.

No doubt both will be on the look-out for quality acquisitions. Rumours persist that the way ahead could be a marriage between the two companies.