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Quote. Unquote. The Best and Worst of 2001
The year through the eyes of three ex-IT directors...

By Jon Bernstein

Published: Friday 14 December 2001

What were the events, the issues and the personalities that shaped 2001? These questions and more are addressed in the last Behind the Headlines of the year. To watch the programme, click here http://www.silicon.com/a49942. And to give you a flavour of things to come, here's a selection of some of the most quotable moments:

Personalities of the Year
"[Vodafone boss] Chris Gent. In turbulent telecoms waters we have probably got a great technology leader. But first and foremost he's a great business leader. Juxtapose this against Marconi... And let's just remember, Vodafone originally came out of Marconi."
Rene Carayol, author, Corporate Voodoo

"There are three personalities of the year. From a leadership point of view there's [New York] Mayor Guiliano. Second there's Rene Carayol who's book has certainly caused a sensation in Woking. And there's Harry Potter. And if we can find somebody who's done for IT what Harry Potter's done for magic then we will be made."
David Taylor, president, Certus

Anti-heros of the Year
"My nomination is the leadership of the IT industry. On mass to a man (and a few women they've allowed in) they've been proven not to be up to the game on a grand scale."
Richard Sykes, chairman, Morgan Chambers

"[Ex-Marconi boss] Lord Simpson and [ex-BT CEO] Peter Bonfield need to be singled out because it takes a massively special skill to erode a share price, trash a profit and loss and build loans in the way that they have done... And just to kill it all the one thing they have taught us is if you do your job really, really badly you'll get beaten over the head with a large cheque and disappear into the sunset."
Rene Carayol, author, Corporate Voodoo

To watch 'Behind the Headlines: The Best and Worst of 2001' click here http://www.silicon.com/a49942

For more on 2001,