Although a decision on whether London will bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games has been delayed because of the Iraqi war, the London Evening Standard reports that Sir Christopher Gent, former chief executive of Vodafone, is a likely candidate to head London’s 2012 bid.
A headhunting agency has won the contract to look for candidates to lead a bid and the agency is already talking to the British Olympic Association, London’s mayor Ken Livingstone and the British Government and drawing up a list of potential candidates.
London is looking for a chairman who has the diplomatic skills to persuade International Olympic Committee (IOC) members to vote for it ahead of its rivals, reports the Evening Standard.
Gent, who announced he was stepping down as chief executive of Vodaphone in December, is regarded as one of Britain’s most admired businessmen.
Another possible candidate is Sir Richard Evans. Evans rose to the top of British Aerospace and has solid international and political contacts, and is also believed to be high on a provisional list of at least 50 names.
