ST. LOUIS, April 12  -- Each year, the School of Business and Technology at Webster University honors a chief executive officer who exemplifies leadership in its true essence. This year, Monsanto’s Chairman, President and CEO, Hugh Grant, is honored as the 2007 President/CEO of the Year.

Grant is recognized for his transformational leadership through resisting conventional wisdom and embracing the power of innovation through deep collaboration and urgency for action. Grant’s vision and perspective on technology have been the keys to his success leading the world’s largest developer of genetically modified seeds. It is also helping push Monsanto into the position of becoming the biggest U.S. maker of corn seed for ethanol, the fuel of the future.

Past recipients of the honor include Lee Scott, President/CEO, Wal-Mart Company; Andy Taylor, Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Edward Whitacre, Chairman, ATT Corporation; and August A Busch IV, President/CEO, Anheuser Busch Companies.

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology- based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information on Monsanto, see http://www.monsanto.com.

Founded in 1915, Webster University is a private, nonprofit, international university that offers a strong liberal arts curriculum as well as professional degree programs through five schools and colleges at 105 campuses. The University currently enrolls 20,296 (4,899 undergraduate and 15,397 graduate) students worldwide including traditional-aged students, adult learners and corporate and military personnel. See http://www.webster.edu.