Bismarck wrote:
The company's chief executive, whose technological expertise, views on the future of the industry, and decision-making style were impressive to the managers who worked with her, was also acknowledged as a leading strategist by many people outside her firm, including executives at rival companies, whose approaches often differed substantially from her own.
Bismarck wrote:
(A) were impressive to the managers who worked with her, wasalso acknowledged as a leading strategist by many people outside her firm, including executives at rival companies, whose approaches often differed substantially from
-> 'were' (plural) required to go in with attributes of the executive namely technological expertise, views on the future of the industry, and decision-making style.
-> Phrase between 'whose technological expertise' and ' worked with her,' is all a modifier. So we require a singular verb for executive which is fulfilled by 'was'
Bismarck wrote:
(B) impressed the managers who worked with her, also was acknowledged as a leading strategist by many people outside her firm, including executives at rival companies, whose approaches often differed substantially from
We require only a verb here. 'also' makes it look like an add on sentence to the previous.
Hence IncorrectBismarck wrote:
(C) was impressive to the managers who worked with her, was also acknowledged as a leading strategist by many people outside her firm, that included executives at rival companies, whose approaches were different substantially in comparison to
'were' (plural) required to go in with attributes of the executive namely technological expertise, views on the future of the industry, and decision-making style.
Here we have 'was'.
Hence incorrectBismarck wrote:
(D) was impressive to the managers who worked with her, also acknowledged as a leading strategist by many people outside her firm, who included executives at rival companies, the approaches of whom differed substantially when compared to
'were' (plural) required to go in with attributes of the executive namely technological expertise, views on the future of the industry, and decision-making style.
Here we have 'was'.
Hence incorrectBismarck wrote:
(E) were an impression to the managers who worked with her, also was acknowledged as a leading strategist by many people outside her firm, including executives at rival companies, whose approaches were often substantially different from that of
We require only a verb here. 'also' makes it look like an add on sentence to the previous.
Hence IncorrectHence IMO A