Svengali

Noun

 * 1) One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
 * 2) * 2005 October 15, in the Hamilton Spectator:
 * She also offers a fascinating glimpse into a more innocent age before svengalis began colluding with marketing men and TV execs to promote talentless wannabes to overnight success.

Thesaurus
Mesmer, Rasputin, VIP, access, bad influence, big wheel, court, eminence grise, five-percenter, friend at court, good influence, gray eminence, heavyweight, hidden hand, hypnotist, hypnotizer, influence, influence peddler, influencer, ingroup, key, kingmaker, lobby, lobbyist, lords of creation, man of influence, manipulator, mesmerizer, open sesame, powers that be, pressure group, sinister influence, special interests, special-interest group, the Establishment, very important person, wheeler-dealer, wire-puller

Etymology
Named from a character in George du Maurier's novel Trilby.

Anagrams

 * leavings