scorecardThe 19 most successful CEOs in Europe right now, according to the Harvard Business Review
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The 19 most successful CEOs in Europe right now, according to the Harvard Business Review

19. Norbert Reithofer, BMW — Reithofer has been at BMW since he joined the company in 1987 as head of maintenance planning, and was made CEO in 2006. [Top 100 position: 30]

The 19 most successful CEOs in Europe right now, according to the Harvard Business Review

18. Simon Wolfson, Next — Wolfson joined British clothes retailer Next straight out of university and just 12 years later, at the age of 33, he was named as the company's chief executive. At the time, he was the FTSE100's youngest CEO. He has now been at the company's helm for 14 years. [Top 100 position 28]

18. Simon Wolfson, Next — Wolfson joined British clothes retailer Next straight out of university and just 12 years later, at the age of 33, he was named as the company

17. Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler — When Sergio Marchionne joined Fiat in 2004, the company was in trouble and making losses. Just two years later Fiat was profitable. He was crucial in securing the formal merger of Fiat and Chrysler in 2014. [Top 100 position: 27]

17. Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler — When Sergio Marchionne joined Fiat in 2004, the company was in trouble and making losses. Just two years later Fiat was profitable. He was crucial in securing the formal merger of Fiat and Chrysler in 2014. [Top 100 position: 27]

16. Martin Bouygues, Bouygues — Bouygues has led the eponymous French conglomerate since 1989, when he took over the chief executive position from his father, the company's founder. As a company, Bouygues specialises in construction, real estate development, and telecoms. [Top 100 position: 26]

16. Martin Bouygues, Bouygues — Bouygues has led the eponymous French conglomerate since 1989, when he took over the chief executive position from his father, the company

15. Johan Thijs, KBC — Thijs is one of the shorter serving executives on this list, taking charge in 2012. His leadership has helped the medium-sized Belgian bank flourish, and last year it made a profit of €1.76 billion (£1.24 billion; $1.88 billion). [Top 100 position: 23]

15. Johan Thijs, KBC — Thijs is one of the shorter serving executives on this list, taking charge in 2012. His leadership has helped the medium-sized Belgian bank flourish, and last year it made a profit of €1.76 billion (£1.24 billion; $1.88 billion). [Top 100 position: 23]

14. Martin Gilbert, Aberdeen Asset Management — Aberdeen's big boss is the ninth-longest serving CEO of any on the Harvard Business Review's list, having served since 1983 when he helped to co-found the asset manager. He is pictured with American golfer Rickie Fowler. [Top 100 position: 22]

14. Martin Gilbert, Aberdeen Asset Management — Aberdeen

13. Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen — It is pretty surprising that Winterkorn makes the list given his role in the recent VW emissions scandal, but prior to the news breaking, Winterkorn had led the German company to a position as top automaker in the world, unseating Toyota in early 2015. He has now left the company. [Top 100 position: 20]

13. Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen — It is pretty surprising that Winterkorn makes the list given his role in the recent VW emissions scandal, but prior to the news breaking, Winterkorn had led the German company to a position as top automaker in the world, unseating Toyota in early 2015. He has now left the company. [Top 100 position: 20]

12. Kasper Rorsted, Henkel — Danish-born Rorsted took charge of German company Henkel in 2008, having joined in 2005. Before that, he worked in the technology sector for Compaq and HP. Henkel produces both industrial and consumer goods. [Top 100 position: 18]

12. Kasper Rorsted, Henkel — Danish-born Rorsted took charge of German company Henkel in 2008, having joined in 2005. Before that, he worked in the technology sector for Compaq and HP. Henkel produces both industrial and consumer goods. [Top 100 position: 18]

11. Lars Rasmussen, Coloplast — Not to be confused with the Danish prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, this Rasmussen is also Danish, but heads up a healthcare equipment manufacturer. He has been CEO and president since 2008. [Top 100 position: 17]

11. Lars Rasmussen, Coloplast — Not to be confused with the Danish prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, this Rasmussen is also Danish, but heads up a healthcare equipment manufacturer. He has been CEO and president since 2008. [Top 100 position: 17]

10. Carlos Brito, ABInBev — Brazilian-born Brito shouldn't technically be on this list, but given that he heads up the world's biggest brewer, based in Belgium, we decided to make an exception. InBev just got even bigger after confirming the acquisition of SAB Miller. [Top 100 position: 16]

10. Carlos Brito, ABInBev — Brazilian-born Brito shouldn

9. Benoit Potier, Air Liquid — Frenchman Potier leads the business of Air Liquide, a French firm specialising in industrial gases. He joined the company as an R&D engineer in 1984, and was made CEO in 1997. [Top 100 position: 15]

9. Benoit Potier, Air Liquid — Frenchman Potier leads the business of Air Liquide, a French firm specialising in industrial gases. He joined the company as an R&D engineer in 1984, and was made CEO in 1997. [Top 100 position: 15]

8. Jacques Aschenbroich, Valeo — One of a small number of CEOs to take their position from outside the company. He joined Valeo, a French auto parts maker from Saint Gobain in 2009. He is originally from Lyon, France. [Top 100 position: 14]

8. Jacques Aschenbroich, Valeo — One of a small number of CEOs to take their position from outside the company. He joined Valeo, a French auto parts maker from Saint Gobain in 2009. He is originally from Lyon, France. [Top 100 position: 14]

7. Florentino Perez Rodriguez, ACS — Spaniard Perez is probably most famous as the President of Real Madrid Football Club, where he paid record transfer fees for players many times. However, he makes the Harvard Business Review's list for his role as chairman and CEO of hugely successful Spanish civil engineering firm ACS. [Top 100 position: 13]

7. Florentino Perez Rodriguez, ACS — Spaniard Perez is probably most famous as the President of Real Madrid Football Club, where he paid record transfer fees for players many times. However, he makes the Harvard Business Review

6. Michael Wolf, Swedbank — The highest-ranked Swede on this list, Wolf took charge as CEO of one of Sweden's "big four" banks in 2009. He joined the bank from leading European credit manager Intrum Justitia. [Top 100 position: 9]

6. Michael Wolf, Swedbank — The highest-ranked Swede on this list, Wolf took charge as CEO of one of Sweden

5. Jon Fredrick Baksaas, Telenor — Baksaas led the Norwegian telecoms giant — which has operations in Scandinavia, eastern Europe, and Asia — from 2002 until August this year, when he stepped down due to an investigation into one of Telenor's Russian affiliates. However, he still makes the top five on this list because of his prior record. [Top 100 position: 7]

5. Jon Fredrick Baksaas, Telenor — Baksaas led the Norwegian telecoms giant — which has operations in Scandinavia, eastern Europe, and Asia — from 2002 until August this year, when he stepped down due to an investigation into one of Telenor

4. Martin Sorrell, WPP — The highest ranking Brit on this list, Sorrell founded advertising and PR giant WPP in 1986, and has been in charge ever since. In 2014, the Sunday Times Rich List said that he is worth in excess of £250 million ($379 million). [Top 100 position: 5]

4. Martin Sorrell, WPP — The highest ranking Brit on this list, Sorrell founded advertising and PR giant WPP in 1986, and has been in charge ever since. In 2014, the Sunday Times Rich List said that he is worth in excess of £250 million ($379 million). [Top 100 position: 5]

3. Elmar Deghart, Continental — Degenhart took the helm at German tyre maker Continental in 2009, joining from auto parts maker Schaeffler. He previously worked for Continental between 1998-2003. Under his leadership, Continental has enjoyed great success. Last year, sales hit a record high of €34.5 billion (£24.4 billion; $37 billion). [Top 100 position: 4]

3. Elmar Deghart, Continental — Degenhart took the helm at German tyre maker Continental in 2009, joining from auto parts maker Schaeffler. He previously worked for Continental between 1998-2003. Under his leadership, Continental has enjoyed great success. Last year, sales hit a record high of €34.5 billion (£24.4 billion; $37 billion). [Top 100 position: 4]

2. Pablo Isla, Inditex — Isla has been CEO of the Spanish clothing company, which owns retailers including Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Pull and Bear, since 2005. His successes as CEO helped Inditex's founder Amancio Ortega briefly become the world's richest man in October 2015. [Top 100 position: 3]

2. Pablo Isla, Inditex — Isla has been CEO of the Spanish clothing company, which owns retailers including Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Pull and Bear, since 2005. His successes as CEO helped Inditex

1. Lars Rebien Sorensen, Novo Nordisk — Sorensen is officially the world's best CEO according to the Harvard Business Review, just pipping Cisco's American boss John Chambers to the top spot. Sorensen heads up Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, which focuses on producing diabetes drugs, something that the HBR says has helped Sorensen and Novo Nordisk achieve such great success. [Top 100 position: 1]

1. Lars Rebien Sorensen, Novo Nordisk — Sorensen is officially the world
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