Crossword Genius

Part I required for a VIP (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

someone

'vip' is the definition.

'part i required for a' is the wordplay.
'part' becomes 'so' (so is a kind of part**).
'i' becomes 'me'.
'required' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a' becomes 'one'.
'so'+'me'+'one'='SOMEONE'

(Other definitions for someone that I've seen before include "Important person" , "big cheese" , "Unspecified person" , "individual" , "A person (maybe of importance)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app