Last week we profiled our choices for the top 10 chief executives in the technology business, so it's only fair that this week we give you a selection of the worst.

For every great chief executive who inspires staff and makes farsighted business decisions, there's usually two or three absolute stinkers who make life miserable for employees and shareholders alike.

In many ways this was a tougher list to write. There were a lot of names to choose from, to be sure, but what distinguishes a bad chief executive from a truly bad one?
Below you'll read about bosses riddled with ineptitude, destroying a company's esprit de cours or just being so pig-headed that they refuse to accept reality.

The end result is the longest and most detailed top 10 list we've ever written. There was something about the topic that really inspired us both to let it all out.

When you've sat though insanely optimistic PowerPoint demonstrations, interviewed management who lie through their teeth or just had to listen to overenthusiastic pitches, an article like this comes as something of a relief.

As ever, we've also added a couple of honourable mentions at the end, at least one of which may surprise you. Feel free to add your own choices in the comments section below.