Pizza king with a firm base to get through downturn

FORMER Pizza Express owner Hugh Osmond has been nominated as the best credit crunch survivor in Esquire's 2008 Man At The Top Awards.

The entrepreneur has been shortlisted with Flybe owner Jim French, fashion firm Asos, and online gambling service Betfair.

Mr Osmond, a 46-year-old father of three, developed Pizza Express with friend Luke Johnson. The former medic amassed a fortune when the company was floated on the stock exchange in 1996.

In his next role as chairman of Punch Taverns he won a battle against brewing giant Whitbread for the estate of Allied Domecq. He later acquired Pearl Assurance and in March 2004 bought Camden Palace for £4 million.

Arsène Wenger is nominated for Esquire's Most Influential Business Thinker award after being the only Premiership manager to turn a profit in the transfer market last year.

Elle Macpherson, Founder of The Body/Elle Macpherson Intimates, is up for the Woman At The Top award. Sam and Jonny Fianu are shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Winners will be announced on 3 November.