Possible Clues:

• Chief Statistician not as important as he looks?
• He'd argue if forced out for one fronting the organisation
• Nominal leader without much power
• Part of some ships
• Carved decoration on a ship's prow ... or a hint to the first word of 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across
• F
• Ship's bow decoration ... and, literally, the first word of 3-, 9- and 24-Down
• Nominal leader without power
• Work out chairman's bust on board
• Reckon fellow, a duke, is a leader in name only