GE Tops 'Most-Respected' Company List

ByJohn S. McClenahen Despite the departure of legendary CEO John F. Welch Jr. and the failure of its attempted acquisition of Honeywell International Inc., Fairfield, Conn.-based General Electric Co. for the fourth consecutive year tops the list of 50 "most-respected companies" compiled by London's Financial Times newspaper and PricewaterhouseCoopers. In 2001, for the fourth consecutive year, Microsoft Corp. repeats as No. 2. IBM Corp. is No. 3, up from No. 5 in the year 2000. Rounding out the top five spots are Japan's Sony Corp., at No. 4, and the Coca-Cola Co., at No. 5.