The Unsung CEO

Even to his closest friends, George David of United Technologies Corp. (UTX ) comes off as a study in contrasts. He will speak passionately about the problem of the country's growing income gap between rich and poor before a crowd of factory workers at UTC's Carrier air conditioner plant in Collierville, Tenn. -- though he himself took home a pay packet worth $70 million last year. When one man raises his hand to ask bluntly about local jobs,

David launches into a monologue about relative labor values in a global economy. Before anyone can write off their leader as heartless, David's eyes tear up while recalling Yuzuru Ito, the late quality guru who helped him formulate his guiding principles of leadership. Then again, while touring the plant, he has barely a glance for the crowd of beaming employees -- many of whom have never met him or anyone else from headquarters before. Perhaps the raised eyebrows of one line worker as the boss swings by his station says it all: Who is this guy?