Research Insight

Institutional Investor interviews the biggest winners, biggest movers, and provides an in-depth understanding of the tactics and strategies employed by the key performers, providing crucial insight into 2011’s All-Europe Executive Team ranking.

Europe’s Corporate Visionaries: 2011 All-Europe Executive Team

Throughout much of last year, Europe’s equity markets suffered collateral damage thanks to the sovereign debt crisis. Some companies kept their head above water, though, such as ASML Holding, which for a second consecutive year is the only outfit to take top honors in every category in its sector in Institutional Investors’ All­Europe Executive Team ranking of Europe’s best CEOs, CFOs, and IR professionals.

InBev's Brito And Dutra Clean Up In Beverages

Carlos Brito and Felipe Dutra of AB InBev are the top CEO and CFO respectively in the beverage industry in Institutional Investor’s 2011 All-Europe Executive Team ranking. Dutra tells II about InBev’s approach, which includes managing complex M&A deals, controlling day-to-day operations, and optimizing the balance sheet structure.

Allianz's CFO Achleitner Takes Top Spot In Insurance

For Allianz’s Dr Paul Achleitner, Europe’s top ranked CFO in the insurance industry in Institutional Investor’s 2011 All-Europe Executive Team, financial history is divided into BC, or before the crisis, and AD, or after de-leveraging. The German insurance company was one of the big winners this year, also picking up awards in investor relations.

Pearson’s CFO Is Sell-Side’s Top For 2011

Out of all the positive 2010 performance figures recently announced for media and education company Pearson, CFO Robin Freestone is most proud of the company’s exceptional cash position. Freestone, according to sell-side analysts, is the best CFO in European media for 2011.

Actelion CEO Clozel Explains His Good Year

Jean-Paul Clozel, CEO of Actelion Pharmaceuticals, has been named the top CEO by buy-side analysts in the Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare (Biotechnology) sector. 2010 was a good year for Actelion: net income rose by 25 percent; net revenues were up 13 percent; product sales were up 12 percent; and the company had cash and cash equivalents valued at CHF 1.4 billion at the end of last year.

Stable Santander Despite Euro Bank Crisis

In a year when Eurozone countries were plagued by a sovereign debt crisis that threatened to once-again topple the continent’s financial infrastructure, while contributing to the seemingly imminent demise of the Euro, Banco Santander has offered a bastion of stability in European commercial banking. Its CEO, Alfredo Saenz Abad, was voted the best CEO in the banking sector by sell-side analysts in the 2011 All-Europe Executive Team.