Mahatma Gandhi figures among the top three most admired leaders of the world, said a global survey of CEOs conducted by accountancy firm PwC.
While Winston Churchill tops the list of 10 most admired leaders, Gandhi figures in the third position after Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple), said the 16th Annual Global CEO Survey.
As part of its annual survey, PwC said it recently asked 1,400 CEOs from around the world "which leaders they most admired, and what they most admired about their actions".
"Some clear types emerged: warriors, (Napoleon; Alexander the Great) reformers (Jack Welch), leaders though adversity (Winston Churchill; Abraham Lincoln), leaders who caught the imagination of the masses (Mahatma Gandhi; Nelson Mandela) and consensus builders like Bill Clinton" PwC said in a statement.
Winston Churchill was the most popular choice of all CEOs with Steve Jobs admired in the most number of countries (37).
Churchill has wide appeal and popularity across Western Europe, coming top in France ahead of Charles de Gaulle and beating Niccolo Machiavelli to the top spot in Italy, PwC said. Twice-serving as British prime minister (1940-45; 1951-55) Churchill even manages a tie with Gandhi in Turkey, behind Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, it added.
As per the PwC, Nelson Mandela, Jack Welch and Abraham Lincoln, were at the 4th, 5th and 6th positions, respectively.
PwC said 15 women were named, of whom Margaret Thatcher was the only one to make the top ten (7th position). The former British Prime Minister, know as the iron lady, died last week.
