The outspoken chairman, who plans to retire at the end of this year, has pushed for tough trade laws to restrain sales of Japanese cars.

Tracy Wong, the outspoken chairman at Wong Doody who once worked for Ogilvy North America, echoed that sentiment.

The British entrepreneur has teamed up with Simon Murray, the outspoken chairman of commodities giant Glencore, to launch Typhon.

Google executives have said they would like to emulate Warren E. Buffett, the outspoken chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, who disdains stock splits.

"The market isn't big enough for all of us," Herbert Demel, the outspoken chairman of VW Brazil, warned recently.

He led the committee until it was abolished in 1974 amid charges that it did little but chase headlines and serve as a pulpit for its outspoken chairman.

Gordon M. Bethune, Continental's outspoken chairman, has made it clear over the last year that he wants the airline to buy back its shares from Northwest.

Tim Martin, Wetherspoon's outspoken chairman, said the group was facing numerous pressures as he unveiled an 11pc fall in pre-tax profits to £32.2m in the six months to January 23.

Lawrence J. Ellison, the outspoken chairman and chief executive of Oracle, clearly enjoys a good fight - especially when the match is rigged in his favor.

Lee A. Iacocca, the outspoken chairman of the Chrysler Corporation, was more blunt on the trip's importance.