And they're off: The career trajectories of FDs

Ian Dyson, FD, Marks & Spencer
We recently flagged up the potential for an FD swap between M&S and Morrisons if Pennycook follows Bolland there and Dyson succeeds him at Morrisons. In any case, surely Dyson's days at M&S are numbered, having missed out on the top job after being widely seen as a front-runner. Odds of 12/1 reflect Dyson's pedigree having been mentored by Sir Stuart Rose and spent time at a number of respectably sized UK plcs. But in reality it may be unlikely Dyson will land the Morrisons big seat if he wasn't deemed right for it at M &S.

WHO WILL DETHRONE WILLIE WALSH AS BRITISH AIRWAYS CEO?
Keith Williams, CFO, British Airways
The favourite with odds of 2/5, Williams will become CEO of the operating company BA will become when it is merged with Iberia and will sit on the board of the merged entity's holding company – so he has already ascended in some ways. But Iberia's CFO Enrique Dupuy du Lôme has been named group CFO for the merged entity. That could be because Williams is being prepared to succeed Willie Walsh as BA's CEO, as the bet suggests, or it could mean that Williams will commit to seeing the merger through and look for new horizons with a very impressive CV.

Jim Lawrence, former CFO, Unilever
Lawrence walked from the consumer goods giant at the close of 2009 after supposedly missing out on promotion to CEO and is currently considering his options. As a non-executive director of BA since 2006, he knows the business and the board well, but given the number of airline CEOs favoured by Paddy Power's odds he is competing with for the BA job (Ryanair's Michael O'Leary may be a tongue-in-cheek bet, but Qantas's Alan Joyce, Virgin Atlantic's Steve Ridgeway and Iberia's Antonio Vazquez are certainly not) odds of 10/11 may be too optimistic.

Julie Southern, CFO, Virgin Atlantic Airways
Southern has experience running an airline in trouble having overseen the reshaping of Virgin Atlantic after the 9/11 attacks, not long after completing her first year with the business. If her boss Steve Ridgeway (with odds of 33/1) happens to take the BA job in 2010, she may consider stepping up to make her mark outside of pure finance at the end of a decade under Richard Branson's wing.

WHO WILL BE ITV's NEXT CEO?
John Cresswell, interim CEO, ITV
Cresswell was FD at ITV and moved into the COO role before being made interim CEO last Autumn on the departure of Michael Grade. A seasoned finance bod, he's been interim CEO for ITV once before so he knows the ropes, but has already ruled out taking the top job despite the bookies putting odds of 4/1 against his name.

Ian Griffiths, FD, ITV
Cresswell's successor as FD, Ian Griffiths, did not make the bookies' list and is not as experienced an FD as Cresswell. But he appears to have won respect for his cost-cutting work from ITV chairman Archie Norman, himself an ex-FD – and Norman is under pressure to find a new chief executive after a dismally fruitless year-long search. Probably a long shot, but one to keep an eye on.

John smith, CEO, BBC Worldwide
A former director of finance, FD and COO at the BBC – and CEO at Worldwide since 2005 – Smith can boast some powerful financial achievements, including setting a target to double pre-tax profit at the division inside two years: it was achieved in three. He's on at 14/1 with Paddy Power's bet. A candidate with a powerful argument for his appointment in the ITV CEO job.

Neil Chugani, CFO, BBC Worldwide
Barely in his forties, Chugani's arrival at BBC Worldwide in 2007 imported a tasty little black book of corporate finance contacts that have proven useful in its M&A strategies. Chugani's formative professional years were spent at BskyB in roles including deputy CFO, director of corporate finance and investor relations and treasury, before he moved into investment banking with Goldman Sachs where he advised media clients. He is regarded as a rising star in both finance and broadcasting so could be a contender for John Smith's job if he goes.

Judith McKenna, CFO, Asda
Asda CEO Andy Bond has odds of 33/1 against his name for the big chair at ITV – wonder if his early years working under ITV's new chairman Archie Norman as a marketing manager for the then-independent grocer gives him the edge? – which puts ASDA CFO Judith McKenna in the frame for promotion after an eventful decade in the job. McKenna is used to presenting to investors and has worked around the business outside of finance, too. Maybe a cheeky outside bet for the FD job at Morrisons if Pennycook departs – or, if we're pushing the boat out, the CEO job?