A number of financial markets firms have lost their CEOs over the course of the last 18 months, and we thought it would be interesting to look at the 10 most (in)famous and rank them in accordance with their incompetence.

1. Stan O'Neal - Merrill Lynch

The man who destroyed the firm

2. Martin Sullivan - AIG

Voted one of the worst CEOs of all-time earlier this year in a CNBC poll. Seen as largely responsible for the risks taken that eventually forced the firm into the hands of the US government.

3. Richard Fuld - Lehman Brothers

Lost about $1bn of his net worth when the firm went bankrupt, and now subject to around 40 investor lawsuits. Fuld was guilty of hubris, pushing Lehman to take excessive risks, and not heeding the warning signs that the day of reckoning was coming. He had plenty of time and opportunity to save the firm.

4. Jimmy Cayne - Bear Stearns

Thought to have spent too much time playing golf and bridge, and not enough ensuring that risks were being effectively managed. Also thought to have lost around $1bn when his firm went to JPMorgan Chase for $10-a-share.

5. Chuck Prince - Citi

A lawyer by trade, Prince is thought to have been largely out of his depth managing the large financial supermarket that was Citi. A decent bloke, but an ineffective leader.

6. Sir Fred Goodwin - Royal Bank of Scotland

Guilty of thinking that every decision he made was the right one, and believing his own hype. Got carried away 'chasing the dream', and crashed and burned in spectacular style.

7. Peter Wuffli - UBS

The first CEO to lose his job in the crisis (in July 2007), the full extent of the losses racked up under his leadership only later becoming known. Swiss banks and effective risk management always used to go together - but not UBS under Wuffli.

8. Jean-Paul Votron - Fortis

Responsible for the disastrous deal to acquire parts of ABN AMRO. Guilty of buying at the top of the market, and not understanding exactly what he was being lumbered with.

9. Ken Thomson - Wachovia

Paid the price for mounting losses, and poor judgement in acquiring Golden West in 2006, just 5 months before the US housing market peaked.

10. Ken Lewis - Bank of America

Should have pushed back harder when US government officials and regulators insisted that he close the Merrill Lynch deal, lost the PR battle that ensued, and finally his job. However, history may well vindicate him.

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