THE Herald’s Power 100 list is not just about who holds power in Scotland but also about how power has shifted – and in the year since the last Power 100, it has shifted profoundly. 

The greatest change can be seen in politics where the consequences of the referendum and the General Election are there for all to see. The top of the list is now dominated by the leading figures of the SNP with Labour politicians sliding down the list or disappearing altogether.

The Herald:

Here we list the entrants from 25 to 50 - follow the links below to find the rest. 

26 Pete Cashmore

Known for his news and technology site Mashable, which he launched in his teens while living with his parents in Aberdeenshire, He is one of the most influential Scots worldwide.

Scotland's Power 100: The top 25 

He has featured in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2012, the Forbes 30 under 30 list, and was named a Young Global Leader by The World Economic Forum. His website now attracts 45 million visitors a month and he has recently announced plans to expand into television. He believes that a new system that analyses why some news articles or videos go viral could be used to create programmes.

Least likely to say: “The internet? It’s a passing phase.”

27 Alexander McCall Smith

This former professor of medical law is one of the world’s most popular novelists. His No 1 Ladies Detective series about Botswana detective Mma Ramotswe won him the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service in Botswana, and his comic Edinburgh tales of the inhabitants of 44 Scotland Street offer a gentler version of the capital than in most fiction.

He has been influential far beyond fiction, not least for his idea for the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

Watch out for: Even more books (he published three this year alone).

28 Mark Millar

He may live the family life in Glasgow and rarely visits America (most of his meetings are done by Skype), but comic book maestro Mark Millar is extremely well connected and can still quietly exert his influence on Hollywood (and sometimes Holyrood).

Scotland's Power 100: 50 to 75 

The 45-year-old creator of Wanted and Kick-Ass, who was born in Coatbridge, made his name on 2000AD, DC Comics, and during 10 years at Marvel Comics, but after leaving to go it alone, found great success in movies – the last comic of his to be made into a film was Secret Service, adapted by Matthew Vaughn into Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Watch out for: Millar realising his dream of a Dragons’ Den scheme that would bring financiers and filmmakers together.

29 David Frost

The value of Scottish exports may have fallen by three per cent to £1.7 billion in the first six months of the year, but there are signs of recovery and the influence of the organisation that protects the drink, the Scotch Whisky Association, and its chief executive, remains strong.

Once the UK’s ambassador to Denmark, 50-year-old Mr Frost has not been afraid to use his muscle and influence in the job, challenging the Scottish Government’s minimum pricing law in the courts.

Watch out for: The result of the Scotch Whisky Association’s challenge.

30  Sir John Leighton

The director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, Belfast-born Sir John, 56, has overseen some significant developments, including securing for the nation Titian’s Diana and Actaeon and Diana And Callisto. The £100 million acquisitions were pursued jointly with the National Gallery in London.

The Edinburgh fine art graduate and former director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has also overseen record visitor numbers, the reopening of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the securing of the major contemporary art collections of Anthony d’Offay.

Watch out for: His recent book 100 Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland.

31  Keith Skeoch

Having succeeded David Nish as chief executive of Standard Life in August after running its investments arm, Keith Skeoch has seen the life and pensions giant enjoy growth as the pension reforms in the UK have boosted demand for its products.

Scotland's Power 100: 75 to 100 

The Edinburgh-based group grew total assets by £2.4 billion in three months, which was helped by winning business in the UK and overseas.

Mr Skeoch has also made his views on the upcoming European Union referendum clear, saying that it is important for the firm that the UK remains part of the EU.

Watch out for: The continuing effect of the pension reforms.

32 Mhairi Black

She may have no real power at Westminster, but becoming the youngest MP since the 17th century drew attention to 20-year-old Mhairi Black that has never gone away.

After defeating a Labour heavyweight by taking Paisley and Renfrewshire South from Douglas Alexander, who was first elected when she was just a toddler, Ms Black used her maiden speech to launch an attack on the Conservative Government. She has many fans.

Watch out for: Black on welfare reform.

33 Simon Skinner

His predecessor as chief executive for the National Trust for Scotland, Kate Mavor saved the organisation from what she called “financial meltdown” – when she joined, the organisation did not have the funds it needed to run its 120 properties.

Skinner’s challenge is to try to move on and raise the millions to fund the repairs and restoration needed over the next decade.

He took the job after serving as chief executive of pension provider Aegon Ireland (and got it partly because of his love for National Trust properties) and his experience is in corporate services, management and marketing roles.

Watch out for: Skinner trying to double the trust’s membership.

34 Paul Gray

The pressure on the National Health Service in Scotland has not diminished (indeed, with an ageing population, it is only likely to increase) and Paul Gray is the man in charge. He is extremely experienced (he has been in government in Scotland since 1979), and is the director-general for health and social care with the Scottish Government and chief executive of NHS Scotland.

Mr Gray has already put his stamp on the service by setting new targets to reduce the hours worked by junior doctors. The first months of The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow have not helped the service’s reputation though.

Biggest challenge: Will he be able to develop a new integrated NHS that can deal with Scotland’s ageing population?

35 Martin Gilbert

Through a combination of growth and grab, the 60-year-old chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management took the fund management group from small to big and powerful but challenging markets have made things trickier recently.There has been speculation that Gilbert was informally approaching potential buyers to gauge interest in the business, but he seems happy being independent for now.

His influence also extends beyond finance: Aberdeen Asset sponsors golf’s Scottish Open.

Most likely to say: “Continuing confidence about emerging markets.”

36 Calvin Harris

He started out recording bedroom demos as a teenager in Dumfries but the 30-year-old singer, songwriter, DJ and remixer Calvin Harris has now sold millions of records and has been the highest-earning DJ for two years in a row as named by Forbes.

The winner of Grammys, MTV VMA awards and a coveted Ivor Novello, he broke a UK record by having nine top 10 singles from one album in 2013.

He has collaborated with Rihanna, Dizzee Rascal, Florence Welch and Ellie Goulding.

Least likely to say: “There’s not enough guitar on this track.”

37 Irvine Welsh

Wealthy and acclaimed, Welsh has become an unlikely spokesman on culture and politics.

His 1993 novel Trainspotting brought Edinburgh’s underworld to worldwide attention, first on the page, and then as a film. His portrayal of the city’s drug culture was repellent and invigorating - and rang true.

The verve of his style sparked a renaissance in gritty fiction. Later works such as Ecstasy and Filth have continued his best-selling success, though dividing the critics.

Watch out for: Danny Boyle’s film sequel to Trainspotting with the original cast.

38  Judy Murray

Like her son, tennis player Andy, Judy Murray, 56, initially struggled to earn the affection of the British public.

Then came Andy’s Wimbledon win and of course the Olympic gold-medal triumph. Add to that that, she came across as fun and hard-working on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. But her greatest influence has always been with the top young players she has coached.

She and golfer Colin Montgomerie are also working on plans to create Scotland’s first purpose-built tennis and golf centre near Stirling.

Most likely to say: “You can do it.”

39 Sir Timothy O’Shea

The principal of Edinburgh University, O’Shea, 66, runs what is regarded internationally as Scotland’s top higher education institution.

It is a huge education provider and employer, with more than 33,000 students –two thirds of them undergraduates – and nearly 9,000 staff, but it is more than that – according to recent figures, the university generates £2 billion annually for the Scottish economy.

Sir Timothy’s job is to ensure its ongoing competitiveness in research and attracting the best staff and students, and he is willing to be outspoken on policy matters.

Watch out for: More outspokenness from Sir Timothy on funding cuts.

40 Sir Chris Hoy

Recently inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame, our most successful Olympic athlete, with six gold medals to his name, is a keen advocate of cycling for health and as a mode of transport.

He was knighted in 2009, an unusual accolade for an active sporting figure.

Sir Chris is also an active ambassador for the charity Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and recently supported the charity’s Give Mental Health a Sporting Chance programme, which aims to champion the use of physical activity and sport as a way of improving and maintaining good mental health and wellbeing.

Greatest single achievement: Taking three golds at the Beijing Olympics.

41 Noel Dolan

The former journalist and producer with the BBC and STV joined the SNP as an adviser in 1998, although he had been an activist for Labour.

Having worked for Alex Salmond and John Swinney, he is now First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s most senior and influential adviser and as such, is right at the centre of power and influence in Scotland (what’s more, he is popular as well). He worked with Ms Sturgeon when she had the health brief at Holyrood.

Greatest achievement: The transformation of the SNP since the late 1990s.

42 Gordon Brown

It may be five years since he was prime minister, and he may no longer be an MP after 32 years, but Gordon Brown has made it his business to remain influential.

He is credited as one of the men who won it for “No” in the referendum with his tour of the country, but it is not the only debate he has joined at the 11th hour. He spoke out against the choice of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader and has described the tax credit cuts as George Osborne’s poll tax.

High point: His speeches in the last few days of the referendum campaign.

43 Mona Siddiqui

One of the country’s most recognised and respected intellectuals, Siddiqui, 52, is Professor of Islamic and Inter-religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh having taught at Glasgow University for 15 years.

One of her major areas of interest is Christian-Muslim relations, but you will also recognise her voice from the most high-profile religious slot in British broadcasting: Radio 4’s Thought for the Day.

Watch out for: Her voice in the continuing debate about changing attitudes to Muslims in the West.

44 David Mundell

Like Ian Murray, David Mundell perhaps wields more influence than he might have done had his party returned more MPs in Scotland, but as Scottish Secretary, he has shown himself combative and realistic.

Trained as a lawyer, he has represented Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale at Westminster since 2005 and has played a central part in seeing the Scotland Bill through the Commons. He says the bill has delivered the promises of the famous, or infamous, Vow during the referendum.

Most likely to say: What are you going to do with the new powers First Minister?

45 Janet Archer

As the chief executive officer of Creative Scotland, the body which decides which Scottish arts organisations should receive funding and which should not, 55-year-old MsArcher has enormous influence, although the body continues to attract criticism from some for allegedly listening to the market more than the artistic community.

Creative Scotland has been working on plans for a new film studio in Scotland, and, although many in the industry will believe it when they see it, Ms Archer has repeated recently that she is confident it will happen.

Watch out for: The new studio, but not any time soon.

46 Joanna Baker

Managing director of the Edinburgh International Festival for the last nine years, the 55-year-old is affable but steely.

With previous experience at Scottish Ballet and Sadler’s Wells, she also makes a considerable contribution to the festival’s dance programme, but never takes her eyes off the event’s finances.

Greatest achievement: She has helped make the fireworks display at the end of the festival the must-go-to event it has become (it now attracts around a quarter of a million people).

47 Bridget McConnell

She helped deliver the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow and now, as chief executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow, 57-year-old Mrs McConnell, who is married to the former first minister Jack McConnell, has a leading role in helping to continue and promote the games’ legacy.  

She told The Herald recently that Glasgow’s sports infrastructure and services, including gyms and pools, and programmes for people who need to be more active, had all been strengthened since the Games. She leads a staff of 2,600 and controls a budget approaching £100 million, although her influence extends from sports to the arts: she is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Most likely to say: “Legacy.”

48  Peter Lawwell

The most powerful man in Scottish football, 56-year-old Lawwell is chief executive of Celtic.He also has considerable influence in the corridors of the Scottish Football Association, and that influence extends to Europe as a member of the European Club Association.

He played  a significant role in salvaging crucial TV income for the SPL after Rangers’ financial collapse and helped Celtic balance their finances and remain successful.

Least likely to say: “Spend, spend, spend.”

49 Professor Anton Muscatelli

The principal and vice-chancellor of Glasgow University is less outspoken than he once was on educational policy (in 2010, he warned that the university would run out of cash within three years).

But the 53-year-old economist remains influential as an adviser to government. He is also the driving force behind Glasgow 2020: A Global Vision, which includes restructuring nine faculties into four colleges as well as placing renewed emphasis on research.

Watch out for: The next four years (his current mandate as principal runs until 2019).

50 Alan Rennie

One of Scotland’s most influential media figures, Rennie, 55, has been working on and with Scottish newspapers for 35 years, having started out in 1979 on titles like the Bishopbriggs Times and Clydebank Post.

He is head of Trinity Mirror newspapers in Scotland, including the Daily Record, Sunday Mail (which he edited from 2000 to 2009) and 17 local papers, and their websites.

He was previously editor-in-chief of the group’s Scottish titles. Like other newspaper groups, he has cut jobs from the titles.

Least likely to say: “This internet craze will blow over.”