SELECTION CRITERIA
- Each candidate was selected from among the highest ranking executives within his or her corporation, managing national and global businesses. These men and women are CEOs, CFOs, COOs, or heads of major divisions that significantly contribute to their company’s revenues, or officers or members of their company’s executive committees. Other titles may include president, general manager, executive vice president, senior vice president, or another top-ranking position with significant management responsibility and budget authority. Executives holding the position of general counsel were not considered.
- Each executive holds a senior management position with one of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies or an international corporation with gross revenues of at least $1 billion.
- Each of the executives has revenue-generating or operating responsibilities, or holds a position critical to product development and the bottom line. None of the top executives has primary responsibility for staff functions in areas such as public affairs, community affairs, or diversity.
- Each has had significant influence in his or her company and industry.
HOW WE IDENTIFY THE MOST POWERFUL EXECUTIVES
- Chief Executive Officers/Largest publicly traded companies and international corporations
- Chief Executive Officers/Major divisions
- Top Executives
CHIEF EXECUTIVES
KENNETH I. CHENAULT
Chairman & CEO
American Express
Power Move: Chenault leads executive management teams, including the Asset Management Group, Asset Management International, and the portfolio management group. In 2004 Chenault oversaw an agreement with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to issue Amex credit cards in China.
STEVEN A. DAVIS Chairman & CEO
Bob Evans Farms Inc.
Power Move: Davis oversees Bob Evans Farms Inc., a publicly held restaurant and food products company with sales of approximately $1.5 billion. He reversed a three-year trend of negative same-store sales at the restaurants with two consecutive years of positive comp-store growth.
JAMES H. DEGRAFFENREIDT JR.
Chairman & CEO of WGL Holdings Inc.
Washington Gas
Power Move: DeGraffenreidt is responsible for the performance of Washington Gas, serving more than 1 million customers. During his 20 years, he has helped transform it into a winner in an industry that has experienced dramatic changes.
ROGER W. FERGUSON JR.
President & CEO
TIAA-CREF
Power Move: Ferguson oversees the retirement system for 3.4 million employees of more than 15,000 institutions that have more than $435 billion in assets under management.
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