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.

Read: Fortune 500’s Baller and Shot Caller CEOs


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Chief Executive
14 years ago

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