19 - ALAN WILSON, CEO, McCormick & Co

The only exec on our list that has served as a US army captain, McCormick CEO Alan Wilson has a degree in communications, and at one time thought of a career as a broadcaster…

Pathway to the top: ​Wilson attended college on an R.O.T.C. scholarship and went on to serve as a US Army captain with tours in the US, UK and Germany before joining Procter & Gamble. After nine years at P&G working in product supply, procurement and manufacturing, he joined seasonings and spices giant McCormick, and held several executive management roles including president of Tubed Products, president of McCormick Canada, president of North American Consumer Products, and COO, before becoming company president in 2007, CEO in 2008 and chairman in 2009.

Picture: Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun

Education​: Wilson has a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from the University of Tennessee.