German chancellor Angela Merkel overtook US secretary of state Condolezza Rice to become this year’s most powerful woman
Pepsico's CEO-designate Indra Nooyi is the fourth most powerful woman in the world while Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is at 13th position, according to Forbes magazine.
India-born and educated Nooyi, who was recently selected to become the top honcho of the fizz giant, made a quantum leap this year in the Forbes top 100 most powerful woman list from her 28th rank in 2005 while Gandhi made a fresh entry into the grouping.
The other Indians in the prestigious list are joint managing directors of ICICI Bank Lalita Gupte and Kalpana Morparia, who found a place down the ladder at 93rd position. Vidya Chabbria, chairman of the Jumbo Group based in Dubai, finds her place two position below at 95.
According to the list, German chancellor Angela Merkel, who did not even figure in last year’s choice, overtook US secretary of state Condolezza Rice to become this year’s most powerful woman. In the list, which have 53 women from the US followed by five from Britain, Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is at 12th position while Democrat senator Hillary Clinton is at 18.
The US first lady Laura Bush is found at 43rd most powerful position while queen Elizabeth booked her place at 46th position followed by Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The profile of Gandhi posted in the Forbes magazine website says that she “heads the Left-leaning party of Jawaharlal Nehru, where she acts as Opposition leader to Manmohan Singh, the pro-business Prime Minister”. “...Gandhi is still widely revered, especially among the country’s poor millions... Gandhi frequently expresses concern that India’s astounding economic growth is leaving the poor behind, and that her country is not doing enough to help its farmers,” the profile said.
Praising Nooyi, who migrated to the US in 1978, the Forbes magazine said few people could handle either the presidential or the CFO job at a $100 billion company. “But not only Nooyi held both the offices since 2000, she was recently handpicked to become Pepsi’s new CEO”.
Nooyi is facing a challenge of another sort as the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment levelled allegation that Pepsi products were “laced with pesticides,” charges that were also levelled against Pepsi’s rival Coca Cola, the magazine said.
China’s vice premier Wu Yi was placed at third position on the power ladder while chairman of Afghanistan independent human rights Commission Sima Samar was ranked 28th. Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is facing an opposition protest led by her bitter rival Awami League’s Sheikh Haseena, is positioned at 33 while People’s Bank of China’s deputy governor Wu Xialong was at 35. Haier Group chairman Mian Mian Yang, also from China, was rated 70th most powerful woman in the world.
Pepsico's CEO-designate Indra Nooyi is the fourth most powerful woman in the world while Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is at 13th position, according to Forbes magazine.
India-born and educated Nooyi, who was recently selected to become the top honcho of the fizz giant, made a quantum leap this year in the Forbes top 100 most powerful woman list from her 28th rank in 2005 while Gandhi made a fresh entry into the grouping.
The other Indians in the prestigious list are joint managing directors of ICICI Bank Lalita Gupte and Kalpana Morparia, who found a place down the ladder at 93rd position. Vidya Chabbria, chairman of the Jumbo Group based in Dubai, finds her place two position below at 95.
According to the list, German chancellor Angela Merkel, who did not even figure in last year’s choice, overtook US secretary of state Condolezza Rice to become this year’s most powerful woman. In the list, which have 53 women from the US followed by five from Britain, Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is at 12th position while Democrat senator Hillary Clinton is at 18.
The US first lady Laura Bush is found at 43rd most powerful position while queen Elizabeth booked her place at 46th position followed by Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The profile of Gandhi posted in the Forbes magazine website says that she “heads the Left-leaning party of Jawaharlal Nehru, where she acts as Opposition leader to Manmohan Singh, the pro-business Prime Minister”. “...Gandhi is still widely revered, especially among the country’s poor millions... Gandhi frequently expresses concern that India’s astounding economic growth is leaving the poor behind, and that her country is not doing enough to help its farmers,” the profile said.
Praising Nooyi, who migrated to the US in 1978, the Forbes magazine said few people could handle either the presidential or the CFO job at a $100 billion company. “But not only Nooyi held both the offices since 2000, she was recently handpicked to become Pepsi’s new CEO”.
Nooyi is facing a challenge of another sort as the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment levelled allegation that Pepsi products were “laced with pesticides,” charges that were also levelled against Pepsi’s rival Coca Cola, the magazine said.
China’s vice premier Wu Yi was placed at third position on the power ladder while chairman of Afghanistan independent human rights Commission Sima Samar was ranked 28th. Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is facing an opposition protest led by her bitter rival Awami League’s Sheikh Haseena, is positioned at 33 while People’s Bank of China’s deputy governor Wu Xialong was at 35. Haier Group chairman Mian Mian Yang, also from China, was rated 70th most powerful woman in the world.