The Fantasy Boardroom

Non-executive chairman: General Sir Richard Dannatt, chief of the general staff, head of the British army. Dannatt joined the army in 1971 after reading economic history at Durham University. Honours too numerous to mention. Has questioned the political motives for the war in Iraq and repeatedly called for better pay and conditions for servicemen. Dannatt’s name was suggested by one of the most influential shareholder voices: 'He offers leadership, integrity, independence and would have the courage to speak out.' Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Chief executive: Sir John Rose, chief executive Rolls Royce. A degree in psychology, a starter career in banking - and then 25 years at the aerospace company, with nearly 13 in the cockpit. Has turned Rolls Royce into the second biggest aero engine manufacturer with an equally vast maintenance division. Not a celebrity ceo, but so trusted and admired that institutional investors hate to think of life after Rose. Respect is due. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Rex Features

Chief operating officer: Dave Brailsford, currently Performance Director of the British Cycling team. Former professional cyclist, with a degree in sports science and psychology and an MBA from Sheffield Business School. Eschews publicity and acclaim in favour of pursuing results. A Jack Welch-type figure, ruthless, driven and demanding. 'If we recognise someone is not going to make the podium, we remove them. We are in the business of thoroughbreds. We can’t make thoroughbreds out of donkeys.' Photograph: Christopher Thomond

Finance director: Vince Cable, deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and economics spokesman. Possibly now Britain’s most popular politician President of the Cambridge Union, PhD in economics, one time London School of Economics lecturer and chief economist at oil giant, Shell. Knows his way round numbers, but avowed opponent of the bonus culture in all walks of life - not just banks. Also bad news for big earners who would prefer to keep their salaries private: Cable believes all employees earning more than the prime minister (£194,000) should be named in company annual reports Photograph: David Cheskin/PA

Executive director: Dominic Barton managing director, McKinsey & Co management consultants Canadian born Rhodes scholar and once a currency analayst in the City, the Shanghai-based head of McKinsey’s Asia operation has just been elected to run the blue-chip consultancy business. Six years ago co-wrote an article: “How to win in a financial crisis”. Maybe, as one of the world’s highest-profile management consultants, he would relish an opportunity to practice what he preaches. Photograph: McKinsey & Company

Executive director: Andy Haste, chief executive, Royal Sun Alliance. Former NatWest banker and GE employee who was hired to trun around the beleaguered Royal & Sun Alliance insurance company. A restructuring expert, much admired by fund managers Photograph: Graham Turner/Guardian

Senior independent director: Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson - aka Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United. Former soccer player who has become the most successful manager in the history of English football. As senior non-executive, Ferguson would have no problem dealing with the egos of very highly paid executives. Step one would be some verbal heat from the famous Ferguson hairdryer. If that failed, he could insist that no executive is bigger than the company and show them the exit - just as his belief that no player is bigger than MUFC led to the departures of soccer superstars like Jaap Stam, David Beckham and Roy Keane Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Non-executive chairman of the remuneration committee: Frances O’Grady, deputy general secretary of the TUC. Educated at an Oxford comprehensive and Manchester University and a life-long union worker. Deputy general secretary of the TUC since 2003. She is a member of the Low Pay Commission. Likely to wrong-foot every one of the (highly paid) professional pay consultants employed by companies to devise incentive and bonus schemes, asking searching questions about executive pay levels Photograph: Martin Godwin

Non-executive director: Val Gooding, former chief executive of BUPA Worked for British Airways for 20 years: posts included director of the Asia-Pacific region, head of marketing and director of cabin services. Overlooked for further promotion she decamped to run the BUPA healthcare group. She is now a non-executive of Sainsburys, a non-executive of Standard Chartered, the Lawn Tennis Association and of the BBC’s executive board. Low-profile high achiever Photograph: PR

Non-executive director: Charlie Mayfield, chairman of John Lewis One-time captain in the Scots Guards, he has an MBA from Cranfield, was once marketing manager of Lucozade and a management consultant at McKinsey. Made chairman of John Lewis at the age of just 39 after moving the department store and Waitrose supermarket group into the online age by buying Buy.com and setting up Ocado. Polite, serious-minded establishment figure who is the champion of the employee-owned business model where all staff get the same percentage bonus - from Mayfield down to Saturday shelf stackers Photograph: Guardian

Non-executive director: Anthony Bolton, former manager Fidelity Special Situations Fund Cambridge graduate and one of the UK’s most successful fund managers - for 28 years - until he stepped down in 2007. A part-time choral composer, he is dubbed the 'silent assassin' for orchestrating the removal of Michael Green from Carlton TV and the 'British Buffett'. Is not in favour of controls on pay, but would like more information on pay outside the boardroom - and no payments for failure Photograph: Martin Godwin