Leadership/Management

From the Field to the Corner Office: A List of CEO Athletes

It’s no surprise that many of America’s most powerful CEOs are athletes. Many participated competitively in high school sports, some dedicated their collegiate years to their athletic endeavors, some played professionally or semi-professionally, and some are strong recreational athletes. CNNMoney compiled a list of these CEOs and their athletic background. Below are some of the highlights:

Jeffrey Immelt (General Electric) — offensive tackle, Dartmouth College football
Samuel J. Palmisano (IBM) — offensive center, Johns Hopkins football
David M. Cordani (Cigna) — Ironman triathlete
Frits van Paasschen (Starwood Hotels) — marathon runner: Boston, New York, London
W. James McNerney Jr. (Boeing) — starting pitcher, Yale University baseball
Steven R. Appleton (Micron Technology) — pro-tennis player before starting at Micron
Brian Moynihan (Bank of America) — fly half and inside center, Brown University rugby
Brian Roberts (Comcast) — All-Ivy and All-American, University of Pennsylvania squash

For other impressive CEO athletic achievements, read CNNMoney’s full article.

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