Michael B. Polk, 48

President
Unilever

When Michael Polk left Kraft Foods (KFT) in 2003, company insiders were devastated, feeling as if Kraft’s future CEO had just walked out the door. With a Harvard Business School MBA, a three-year stint at Procter & Gamble (PG), and Asian experience on his resume, Polk is an ideal corner office candidate. Former boss Bob Eckert, now CEO of Mattel, says: “He gets the right things done, period.” Polk attributes that success to inspiration and a “keep it simple, stupid” approach to management. “Ideas are at the heart of our business,” Polk says. “It's about simplifying what appears complex.”

--by Matthew Boyle