BARRY ENGLE

CEO, Think Global AS

Chosen because: Engle, 47, is steering the Norwegian electric vehicle maker's efforts toward fleet sales - a preliminary step toward retail sales - as Think strives to ramp up production in its Elkhart, Ind., plant. Think got a vote of confidence when the U.S. government approved its EVs for purchase by government fleets; the company is hoping for another one in the form of a Department of Energy grant. But it's also searching for more capital. Before Engle joined Think in late 2010, he was CEO of New Holland Agricultural Equipment S.p.A. in Turin, Italy. Earlier, he held a number of executive posts at Ford Motor Co., including CEO of Ford of Canada and president of Ford Mercosul and Ford of Brazil.

Quote: "Fleet sales will drive up vehicle and battery production volumes and drive down costs, which will benefit retail consumers and help transform the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet from one that is mostly dependent on imported oil to one that is fueled entirely by domestically produced electric energy."