Institutional Investor Magazine Ranks America's Best CEO's

In its fourth annual Best CEO's in America ranking, Institutional Investor magazine identifies the top CEOs in 62 industries, as rated by investors and brokerage firm analysts.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 13, 2006

America's best CEO's must be visionary leaders, possess great integrity and deliver superior results. In its fourth annual Best CEOs in America ranking, Institutional Investor magazine identifies the top CEOs in 62 industries, as rated by investors and brokerage firm analysts. The results of the survey appear in the magazine’s January issue, released today.

The magazine’s list of top CEOs abounds with examples of those who have persuaded investors that their basic strategy is sound, despite short-term setbacks. To find chief executives who excel at their ever-tougher assignment, Institutional Investor surveyed more than 1,700 investment professionals at close to 475 firms to help select a list of America’s top CEOs

Listed below by sector and industry are the 62 chief executives who scored the highest when II asked portfolio managers and sell-side equity analysts to choose the top-performing CEOs in their domains.

BASIC MATERIALS

Chemicals/Commodity -Andrew Liveris, Dow Chemical Co.

Chemicals/Specialty - Dennis Reilley, Praxair

Metals & Mining- Daniel DiMicco, Nucor Corp.

Paper & Forest Products- Steven Rogel, Weyerhaeuser Co.

CAPITAL GOODS/INDUSTRIALS

Aerospace & Defense Electronics-George David, United Technologies Corp.

Airfreight & Surface Transportation Frederick Smith, FedEx Corp.

Business & Professional Services Harold (Max) Messmer Jr., Robert Half International

Electrical Equipment & Multi-Industry Jeffrey Immelt, General Electric Co.

Environmental Services James O’Connor, Republic Services

Machinery Alexander (Sandy) Cutler, Eaton Corp.

Packaging R. David Hoover, Ball Corp.

CONSUMER

Airlines- Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Co.

Apparel, Footwear & Textiles- Lewis Frankfort, Coach

Autos & Auto Parts- John Barth, Johnson Controls

Beverages- Steven Reinemund ,PepsiCo

Cosmetics, Household & Personal Care Products- Alan Lafley, Procter & Gamble Co.

Food- Richard Lenny, Hershey Co.

Gaming & Lodging- Gary Loveman, Harrah’s Entertainment

Homebuilders & Building Products- Robert Toll, Toll Brothers

Leisure- Micky Arison, Carnival Corp.

Restaurants- David Novak, Yum! Brands

Retailing/Broadlines & Department Stores- Robert Ulrich, Target Corp.

Retailing/Food & Drug Chains- John Mackey, Whole Foods Market

Retailing/Hardlines- Robert Nardelli, Home Depot

Retailing/Specialty- Stores Scott Edmonds, Chico’s FAS

Tobacco- Louis Camilleri, Altria Group

ENERGY

Electric Utilities- C. John Wilder, TXU Corp.

Integrated Oil- Lee Raymond, Exxon Mobil Corp.

Natural Gas- Keith Rattie, Questar Corp.

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production- Mark Papa, EOG Resources

Oil Services & Equipment- James Day, Noble Corp.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Banks/Large Cap- Richard Kovacevich, Wells Fargo & Co.

Banks/Midcap- John Kanas, North Fork Bancorp.

Brokers & Asset Managers- Richard Fuld Jr., Lehman Brothers Holdings

Insurance/Life- Arthur Ryan, Prudential Financial

Insurance/Nonlife- Glenn Renwick, Progressive Corp.

Mortgage Finance- Angelo Mozilo, Countrywide Financial Corp.

REITs- Steven Roth, Vornado Realty Trust

Specialty Finance- Kenneth Chenault, American Express Co.

HEALTH CARE

Biotechnology- Arthur Levinson, Genentech

Health Care Facilities- Jack Bovender Jr., HCA

Health Care Technology & Distribution- Edwin (Mac) Crawford, Caremark Rx

Managed Care- William McGuire, UnitedHealth Group

Medical Supplies & Devices- J. Raymond Elliott, Zimmer Holdings

Pharmaceuticals/Major- Henry McKinnell Jr., Pfizer

Pharmaceuticals/Specialty- Bruce Downey, Barr Pharmaceuticals

MEDIA

Cable & Satellite- Brian Roberts, Comcast Corp.

Entertainment -Richard Parsons, Time Warner

Publishing & Advertising Agencies- Kenneth Lowe, E.W. Scripps Co.

Radio & TV Broadcasting- Hugh Panero, XM Satellite Radio Holdings

TECHNOLOGY

Computer Services & IT Consulting- Paul Garcia, Global Payments

Electronics Manufacturing Services- Timothy Main, Jabil Circuit

Imaging Technology- Bruce Chizen, Adobe Systems

Internet- Terry Semel, Yahoo!

IT Hardware- Joseph Tucci, EMC Corp.

Semiconductor Capital Equipment- Kenneth Schroeder*, KLA-Tencor Corp.

Semiconductors- Richard Templeton, Texas Instruments

Software- Steven Ballmer, Microsoft Corp.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Data Networking & Wireline Equipment- John Chambers, Cisco Systems

Telecom Equipment/Wireless- Edward Zander, Motorola

Telecom Services/Wireless- Gary Forsee, Sprint Nextel Corp.

Telecom Services/Wireline- Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon Communications

*Stepped down January 1; remains senior adviser

In the II poll, respondents were asked to name their first, second and third choices for best CEO for a given industry; the responses were weighted by rank to produce a score for each candidate. The survey presents 178 winners — up to three per industry. Voting concluded in early September 2005.

For the complete CEO rankings, and profiles of five of the first-place CEOs, please visit http://www.institutionalinvestor.com

Contacts:

Liza Shevitz

(212) 224-3623

Evan Cooper

(212) 224-3160     

# # #