In return for these sacrifices they have prospered in the most dynamic business environment in the world.

America is a land of immigrants, yet more than any other nationality the British have forged a special relationship with the country.

Our first list of British executives based in America shows just how well they have adapted to the vast scale and often wildly different business environment of the US.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many Brits have risen to the top in sectors such as banking where there are strong ties between the City of London and Wall Street.

We are also well represented in the media. The two sectors account for our leading pair, Martin Sullivan at insurance giant AIG and Sir Howard Stringer at Sony.

Most of our top executives are found in these two industries and have stuck to their respective centres on the east and west coast.

But there are British-born executives to be found in the most American of business environments, and Brits have made their mark right across the country.

Dagenham’s Colin Reed (ranked 23) runs the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville’s legendary music venue, where stars such as Patsy Kline made their mark.

In Chicago, Battersea boy Jim Reid-Anderson (No 22) runs the medical-screening company Dade Behring.

“Americans are incredibly welcoming to people from other countries, especially the British,” he said. “The business environment here is very similar to that in Britain, but perhaps people are more encouraging of success and less envious of those that make it.”

Disney president Andy Bird, raised in Macclesfield and a former producer for Piccadilly Radio in Manchester, said size was the biggest difference between Britain and America. “Both the scale of the country and its industry make an enormous difference here,” he said.

In compiling the list, the size of the British executive’s company was just one, albeit important, factor we took in to account. We also looked at the person’s influence within that company, within their industry and in wider society — particularly US society.

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive