[mikeryan]

I have to disagree, I would think that the CEO would be the single most important individual in defining, creating and driving a corporate culture.

[gamble]

I agree, but in the case of HP I would add that the board has been entirely capable of disgracing itself independently of Fiorina. Fiorina, Hurd, and Apotheker didn't manifest out of thin air, after all.

[pstuart]

Steve Jobs comes to mind as a perfect example (in the positive sense).

[gaius]

Agreed. Infact you could say that that's what a CEO does.