Phil Dixon

Phil Dixon, Trade consultant (37)

Why he is on the list:

The Barnsley boy is an extremely rare bird in this trade — he's trusted by both licensees and senior pubco bosses alike.

A BII companion member, his gritty background in LVA work in the Midlands many years ago, when he fought rent reviews for licensees, has given him near-mythological status in pubs across the country.

But his intelligence and common-sense approach to many of the trade's knottiest issues, not to mention his disarmingly frank delivery, give him equal credibility in the boardroom — and that's despite regularly sending up some of the biggest names in the trade in his long-running column in the MA.

Close to the new chief executive of the BII, an organisation of which he was membership director for years, Dixon has strong progressive views on the way forward for the trade, some of which will undoubtedly be testing his popularity at the major pubcos.

What the past year has held:

Dixon has been a driving force at the BII, instigating the drive towards the emerging quickie/low-cost dispute-arbitration service that MPs are demanding. He also pushed for the groundbreaking rent review seminars that BII staged around the country last year. And he quietly continues to help licensees resolve tricky issues with their landlords.

Challenges ahead:

Ensuring that the BII's dispute service is not too watered down to work effectively; staying the voice of reason as tempers get increasingly frayed; and finding some new jokes for his stand-up routine.