ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In an annual survey of investment professionals sponsored by Institutional Investor magazine, David N. Farr, chairman, CEO and president of Emerson (NYSE: EMR), is ranked as one of "The Best CEOs in America" for the second year in a row. He is also again ranked as the top CEO in the electrical equipment and multi-industry category.
Institutional Investor magazine noted on its Web site and its print edition that the top-ranked CEOs “score high marks for being forthright and transparent with shareholders and smart with their companies’ balance sheets. They also earn high praise for keeping their companies on course.” The magazine’s April issue credits Farr and the other winning CEOs with providing long-term strategic vision, operational efficiency, strong leadership, and cost management in today’s harsh economic climate.
Currently in his ninth year as CEO, Farr has increased emphasis on energy and environmental responsibility in the technology solutions Emerson offers customers, continued to reshape the business portfolio through key acquisitions, and has furthered Emerson’s technology leadership through new product development. With his management team, Farr has continued a strong emphasis on leadership development globally, strengthened customer relationships worldwide, and driven aggressive management of Emerson’s assets against growing economic pressures. Last year, Emerson sales reached a record $24.8 billion, an increase of 12.1 percent over the prior year.
Farr has served as CEO of Emerson since October 2000 and was named chairman in September 2004. He is only the third chief executive of Emerson in the past 55-plus years. He assumed the title of company president in November 2005.
To develop its list of the best CEOs, Institutional Investor surveyed more than 900 analysts, portfolio managers and investment professionals from 460 leading institutions. Survey participants cast their votes, ranking their top choices by first, second and third; the magazine then scored each vote by weight, with first place votes counting more than second place and so on, to determine the top CEOs in 57 sectors. For more information about the survey and rankings, visit www.iimagazine.com.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2008 were $24.8 billion and Emerson is ranked 94th on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.