chief executive, Barclays International Retail & Commercial Banking
When he is not reading bed-time stories to his six children, David Roberts is on the road and in the air, rallying Barclays’ troops in the UK and abroad. On occasion he can even be found at his desk in the bank’s City of London HQ. Mr Roberts, 42, took his current job in January 2005.

CFO & head of strategy, Citigroup
In an age of scandal, Sallie Krawcheck is the queen of clean. The 40-year-old former CEO of independent research firm Sanford C Bernstein (dubbed the “last honest analyst” by Fortune) is now at the centre of the Shakespearean drama that is the succession to the largest financial services company in the world.

president and chief operating officer, Goldman Sachs
Lloyd Blankfein was appointed to his current position in December 2003. However, he did not hone his skills in the rarified atmosphere of an investment bank but at J Aron, a commodities trading firm acquired by Goldman in 1982.

Choosing the rising stars of banking has been one of the most difficult tasks The Banker has set itself in many a year. The number of outstanding candidates, chosen by our committee and our network of worldwide correspondents, was overwhelming. We have no doubt, though, that we have chosen some of the best and brightest, who will make their mark on the international stage as they become chief executive officers of banks in many countries. A few interesting themes were thrown up once the list was completed. First was the number of women on it: four out of 18. The glass ceiling looks like being broken – although it is worth noting that two of those have the benefit of family connections. Second, and associated with the first, is the number of family-influenced banks that are still of global relevance. And third is the fact that country size – as evidenced by Switzerland and Greece – was not that important.