"Institutional Investor" Unveils 2009 Ranking of America's Best CEOs

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - April 13, 2009) - For a seventh consecutive year, Institutional Investor surveyed the world's biggest shareholders to find out who they regard as the best CEOs in corporate America. The winners include U.S. chief executives who score high marks for being forthright and transparent with shareholders and smart with their companies' balance sheets.

Today's release of the 2009 America's Best CEOs ranking on www.iimagazine.com provides the names of chief executives considered leaders within the Basic Materials, Capital Goods/Industrials and Consumer industry categories. The shareholder favorites include Toll Brothers CEO Robert Toll, who repeats as winner in the Homebuilders & Building Products sector, and Staples CEO Ronald Sargent, who earns the top spot in the Retailing/Hardlines sector.

Survey results for the Energy, Financial Institutions and Telecommunications categories will be announced on www.iimagazine.com on Tuesday, April 14th; and the Health Care, Media and Technology categories will be released on Wednesday, April 15th.

"Institutional Investor's" 2009 ranking of America's Best CEOs reflects the opinions of over 900 buy-side investment professionals at more than 460 institutions with combined assets of $6.6 trillion in U.S. equities.

To arrive at the list of Best U.S. CEOs, "Institutional Investor" surveyed buy-side analysts, portfolio managers and other investment professionals. The survey respondents named the best U.S. CEOs in 57 industry sectors in which they invest. Votes were weighted, with first place votes counting more than second place votes, and so on, to produce a score for each executive that was used to compile the rankings.

For more information, please contact Michele Bickford at mbickford@iiresearchgroup.com or 212-224 3360.

About Institutional Investor

Now entering its fifth decade, "Institutional Investor" has consistently distinguished itself among the world's foremost financial publications with ground-breaking journalism and incisive writing that provides "must read" intelligence for a global audience. Three editions of the magazine are published: Americas, International and Asia. In addition, throughout the year "Institutional Investor" offers a host of proprietary research and rankings that serve as respected industry benchmarks, informing and influencing its carefully targeted circulation base throughout the year. For more information visit www.iimagazine.com

Contact Information: For more information, please contact: Michele Bickford mbickford@iiresearchgroup.com 212-224 3360