Britain's Most Admired No. 3: Johnson Matthey, Neil Carson

It may be nearly 200 years old, but former gold assayer Johnson Matthey is more than a match for its younger rivals - sweeping the board this year in the chemicals sector. Under CEO Neil Carson, the precious-metal specialist has built a 24-carat reputation in catalytic converters. The current crisis in the global car trade may have taken some of the shine off; but having secured its place at the cutting edge of green technologies, the company is looking at a glittering future.