Even so, executives of generic drug manufacturers praised the proposal, saying it could prevent many of the abuses that brand-name pharmaceutical companies have committed.

And several executives praised the apparently more cooperative relationship between the city and the state, whose competitive manner obstructed projects in the past, they contended.

The dissident former executives, known as the group of eight, praised Mr. Purcell's planned departure as an "important and necessary first step."

First, the 56-year-old president is someone other executives have praised.

One executive with extensive experience in humorous airline advertising praised the Alaska Airlines campaign - up to a point.

A senior executive at another Interpublic media agency praised the Nielsen report.

The executive, Mark H. Willes, praised the paper in a statement announcing the closing.

Lobbyists and executives from the satellite television industry generally praised the legislation.

Nevertheless, the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, praised Mr. Giuliani's efforts to keep the Yankees in the city.

In fact, executives from the other networks generally praised the pre-emptive strike by NBC.