2011 marked several power shifts within the Fortune 500 and beyond for reasons that run the gamut: some companies needed a new leader to steer them out of a scandal, others just wanted a pair of fresh eyes. Some of these execs eased out of their corner offices on their own steam, while others got more of a shove out the door.
It's been a hot and cold year for the stock market, but these Fortune 500 companies managed to float to the top with impressive gains.
