Hot Pick for Virgin Media

Wellington-born Neil Berkett is widely expected to be made chief executive of Virgin Media. Berkett joined Virgin Media as chief operating officer in 2005 and has been acting chief executive of the company since the abrupt departure of Steve Burch last month. He recently announced his intention to develop Virgin Media’s broadband services in the UK, rather than continue to compete for BSkyB’s premium pay-TV market share. “Despite our technical advantage we are still not really standing out from the crowd,” he admitted in a Guardian interview. “I really do want to re-focus our energies onto the broadband platform.” Berkett has previously worked for Prudential Assurance Company and Lloyds TSB in the UK.