Bookie Paddy Power has issued its 2010 Sack Race for the UK’s leading Chief Executives as underperforming companies come under increasing pressure to address their shortcomings.
With HMV Group already shedding the MD of Waterstones after a highly unsatisfactory performance by the book group punters are speculating whether it will be the first high profile casualty of 2010.
Willie Walsh, CEO at British Airways, is the 5/2 favourite having endured a torrid 2009 of record losses and the strike debacle. Walsh is closely followed in the betting by Giles Thorley of Punch Taverns at 3/1 as he faces pressure on both sides from publicans and shareholders alike.
Eric Daniels is the leading name in banking at 9/2 as the Lloyds Banking Group chief doesn’t appear to be totally out of the woods yet as he negotiates the rocky path between shareholders and the Treasury Select Committee.
Outsiders in the market are the supermarket impresarios as Tesco and Sainsbury continue to perform well in the tough times. Sir Terry Leahy is 25/1 with Justin King 33/1.
Paddy Power CEO Sack Race
5/2 Willie Walsh - BA
3/1 Giles Thorley - Punch Taverns
9/2 Eric Daniels - Lloyds
6/1 John Browett - DSG
6/1 John Condron - Yell
8/1 Michael Queen - 3i
8/1 Stephen Hester - RBS
12/1 Mark Clare - Barratt
14/1 Peter Redfern - Taylor Wimpey
25/1 Terry Leahy - Tesco
33/1 Justin King – Sainsbury
