 No. 34 Michael Dell, founder and chairman, Dell Computer
Last year's position: 12
Michael Dell didn't get much of a mention in the debate for Agenda Setters 2004. That's odd, given his stature in the industry and track record. It probably contributed to his fall to 34.
Could it be that he was lumped in with others as a mere boss of a (predominantly) hardware company? Witness how well Carly Fiorina or Scott McNealy did. Or it could be that the answer is in his job title. Since the summer he has no longer been CEO. He and his colleagues took the big decision to elevate former COO Kevin Rollins to that post at the start of the year.
But Dell the man may actually become more influential. As the company wraps up some markets, it storms into others - not just IT hardware around lower-end printing, storage and networking gear - but areas such as consumer electronics.
Sure, Dell is faced with a whole new challenge when it battles a Sony or Philips but one man will try to prove an IT outfit can make that jump.
|
