Glassdoor, a trusted source for workplace insights and curated job matches, today announced its list of the 50 Best CEOs 2026 across the United States. Unlike other workplace awards, Glassdoor’s list is based entirely on insights provided voluntarily and anonymously by employees through a company review on Glassdoor — no nominations, surveys, fees, or pay-to-play.
This year’s award comes at a pivotal moment for the workforce. Glassdoor data shows that employee confidence in senior leadership is eroding fast. Average senior leadership ratings fell below 3.5 in April 2026, the worst month since 2017, as mentions of “misalignment” and “disconnect” in employee reviews surged year-over-year. As workers navigate increased uncertainty in the job market and a growing disconnect from leadership, there’s never been a more critical time to recognize the CEOs who are leading with empathy, clarity, and purpose.
“Trust in leadership is fraying at exactly the moment employees need it most,” said Glassdoor’s Chief Economist, Daniel Zhao. “Our data shows senior leadership ratings hitting their lowest point in nearly a decade. Against that backdrop, the CEOs on this list stand out for doing the opposite: communicating clearly, staying grounded in their company’s mission, and earning genuine trust from the people they lead.”
The top ten Best CEOs 2026 are:
- NVIDIA
- Quick Quack Car Wash
- Stryker
- Travelers
- Keller Williams
- GE Aerospace
- Northwestern Mutual
- Boston Scientific
- AstraZeneca
- EoS Fitness
Glassdoor’s 50 Best CEOs 2026 spans multiple industries. Information Technology is the most-represented sector, with nine winners, including NVIDIA (#1), followed by Real Estate (six), Financial Services (five), and Manufacturing (five). It’s also worth noting that 28 of the 50 Best CEOs 2026 winners also earned a spot on Glassdoor’s 2026 Best Places to Work list, reinforcing that strong CEO leadership and great workplace culture go hand in hand.
“Glassdoor’s 50 Best CEOs are proof, in their own employees’ words, that decisive, trustworthy leadership is still possible in one of the toughest stretches the workforce has faced,” said Owen Humphries, President at Glassdoor. “The leaders on this list span a diverse set of industries, but what they all have in common is the ability to translate their leadership directly into employee trust.”
The award replaces Glassdoor’s former Best-Led Companies list, sharpening the company’s focus on CEO and executive leadership and its impact on employee experience and company reputation. When providing a company review, employees are asked to rate several factors tied to their employment experience. Glassdoor’s Best CEOs award factors in CEO approval ratings, Senior Management ratings, and Senior Leadership sentiment scores from Review Intelligence™, Glassdoor’s proprietary sentiment analysis tool, for a holistic view of leadership at each company. When rating their CEO on Glassdoor, employees choose from one of three options: approve, disapprove, or no opinion.
Each leadership rating reflects the quantity, quality, and consistency of Glassdoor-approved company reviews and ratings submitted by current and former U.S.-based employees between May 16, 2025, and May 15, 2026. During the year-long eligibility period, companies considered for the list must have more than 1,000 employees and receive at least 75 ratings across the two leadership attributes (CEO job performance and senior management).
Complete awards methodology can be found and downloaded here: https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/index.htm
SEE FULL LIST: 50 Best CEOs 2026
About Glassdoor
Glassdoor is revolutionizing how people everywhere find jobs and companies they love by providing deeper workplace transparency. Professionals turn to Glassdoor to research ratings, reviews, salaries and more at millions of employers, and to find their next role through curated job matching. Companies use Glassdoor to post jobs and attract talent through employer branding and employee insights products. Glassdoor is part of Indeed, a subsidiary of Recruit Holdings, a global leader in HR technology and business solutions that is simplifying hiring and transforming the world of work. For more information, visit www.glassdoor.com.
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