Who is your leader of the year?

We have published a lot of leadership content lately which has proved popular. Effective leadership skills are crucial to the success of any entrepreneur and there's lots to be learnt from how high profile figures do it - both good and bad.

At this year's National Business Awards, sponsor Orange has introduced a Leader of the Year category. We are supporting the awards and are giving BusinessZone.co.uk members a say in who wins. The contenders are below so vote now! The deadline is 23 October and winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 10 November.

John Bird, founder & editor-in-chief, The Big Issue

John Bird was born into poverty, brought up in care, and has spent time both homeless and in prison. Now an established iconoclast, activist and publisher, John Bird is the force behind The Big Issue, the world's most successful street magazine. He is an inspirational business leader with an outstanding record of using business as a tool for social change.

Now aged 63, he has recently remarried for the third time and he has 5 children. At a time when Corporate Social Responsibility is preoccupying business leaders and consumers alike, John Bird offers an authoritative, fresh approach, and some original perspectives on the interaction of business and society. His diverse experience, combined with his exuberant personality, erudition and often trenchant views make him a compelling and entertaining speaker. Since founding The Big Issue in 1991 with Gordon Roddick, John has overseen its development into the UK's most successful social enterprise.

Watch a video and vote for John Bird here.

Dame Marjorie Scardino, chief executive, Pearson plc

Marjorie Scardino has been chief executive of Pearson since 1997, and has transformed the company into a durable and growing global enterprise focused on three business areas – educational publishing and technology, consumer publishing through the Penguin brand, and business information in the Financial Times Group. During that time, Pearson sales grew from £2.2 billion in 1996 to £4.8 billion in 2008; operating profit rose from £281 million in 1996 to £762 million in 2008.

Prior to coming to Pearson, she was chief executive of The Economist Group, of which Pearson owns 50%. She is a non-executive director of Nokia Corporation and a member of several charitable and advisory boards, including The MacArthur Foundation, The Carter Center and The Victoria & Albert Museum.

Watch a video and vote for Dame Marjorie Scardino here.

Ian Cheshire, group chief executive, Kingfisher plc

Ian Cheshire, 50, was appointed Group Chief Executive of Kingfisher plc in January 2008. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of B&Q from June 2005. His previous roles at Kingfisher include Chief Executive of International and Development, Chief Executive of e-Kingfisher and Group Director of Strategy and Development. Before joining Kingfisher in 1998 he worked for a number of retail businesses including Sears plc where he was Group Commercial Director.

He is also a member of the Prince of Wales' Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change and a Member of the Employers’ Forum on Disability, President’s Group.

Watch a video and vote for Ian Cheshire here.

Sir William Sargent, CEO, Framestore

Co-founder of Framestore March 1986. The company has created digital images (visual effects, animation and filmgrading) for major Hollywood studios, UK and US broadcasters and international advertising agencies. The company has won most major creative awards internationally including the Academy Award (Oscar), British Academy (Bafta), US Television Academy (Primetime Emmy), Royal Television Society and many more. Today the company employs over 600 staff (artists, computer scientists, producers and mathematicians) in offices in Soho London, SoHo New York and Reykjavik.

William was raised in Rio de Janeiro, educated by American nuns followed by Irish Jesuits in Ireland, and finally trinity College, Dublin. Alongside Framestore, from 2005 to 2009 William was a permanent secretary based at the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. William is a Fellow, Royal Society for the Arts, a non executive Board director of HM Treasury, and was knighted in the Queen’s 2008 Birthday List.

Watch a video and vote for Sir William Sargent here.

Peter Marks, chief executive, The Co-operative Group

Peter Marks has spent his entire working life within the Co-operative Movement, having joined Yorkshire Co-operatives in 1967 as a Management Trainee. Over his career, Peter has managed numerous Co-operative businesses, including the food, travel, funeral and department store operations. Since 2007, Peter has been Group Chief Executive of the Co-operative Group, during which time he has overseen a renaissance of the Co-operative brand, combining improved financial performance and increased commitment to the Group’s ethical stand, culminating earlier this year in the acquisition of the Somerfield food store business and the merger with the Britannia Building Society.

Watch a video and vote for Peter Marks here.