Leslee Dart: Power List 2007

Leslee Dart doesn't run the country's largest PR firm, but she does lead one of the most influential. When Dart was publicly dismissed after 23 years from PMK/HBH in November 2004, members of Hollywood's elite expressed outrage and surprise. By the end of the year, however, she had resurfaced at the helm of New York-based the Dart Group, with a staff including former PMK/HBH colleagues and seasoned studio publicists, as well as a loaded account roster, including longtime PMK clients Nicole Kidman, Scott Rudin, Tom Hanks, Woody Allen, and Martin Scorsese. By the end of 2006, Dart had expanded operations to Los Angeles and renamed the firm 42West to reflect its bicoastal growth. Known for getting results, Dart's strong will is as fabled as her media influence. But in three decades of industry work, she has maintained an outstanding reputation among clients, journalists, and even competitors: Dart is not only respected, but genuinely liked. And that rarity in the world of entertainment publicity is the ultimate testament to her PR power.