Mr. Small is known as a no-nonsense executive who does not tolerate much dissent among his troops and is said to wield an enormous amount of influence over Mr. Reed.

A big, blustery, no-nonsense executive, Mr. Bethune swears profusely and has the timing of a stand-up comic.

From all indications, Bradway is a smart, no-nonsense executive who has shown courage.

That hardly seems an apt description of the pinstriped publishers of American newspapers or of the no-nonsense executives of newsprint manufacturers.

Several of Donahoe's peers defended him, saying he is an honest, no-nonsense executive.

The three-tower Morgan Suites Executive Residences, in turn, was designed for no-nonsense executives with its executive studios and one-bedroom units that are perfect for busy professionals.

"The whole discussion dealing with the power of banks seems an irrational irritation," said the strong-willed, no-nonsense executive.

"Stern has been a good, hard-hitting, no-nonsense chief executive who has understood the European markets well," said Ann Courtright, research director for the Yankee Group, the Boston-based market-research and consulting concern.

The ascension of Mr. Takanashi, a sharp, no-nonsense executive, was itself a sign of the times.

Peter R. Scanlon, the no-nonsense executive who had run Coopers for nine years, was showing signs of fatigue in his third and final term.