Forbes Claim Kelly Has Only 10 More Rungs To Go

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday August 29, 2008

Michelle Nichols

WESTPAC chief executive Gail Kelly has been named one of the world's most influential women by respected US publication Forbes.

Mrs Kelly, 52, comes in at No. 11 on the list, which is based on career, economic impact and media coverage.

That puts her ahead of the likes of Indian politician Sonia Gandhi (21), defeated US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (28), talkshow celebrity Oprah Winfrey (36) and Queen Rania of Jordan (96).

In February, Mrs Kelly took charge at Westpac, which is making a $15.6 billion takeover of St George Bank in Australia's biggest-ever bank deal.

For the third straight year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was named the world's most powerful woman.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (7) dropped three spots from last year as the Bush Administration prepares to leave office in January.

The rest of the top 10 is made up of the chief executives of PepsiCo, WellPoint, Anglo American, Kraft Foods, Temasek Holdings, Areva and Xerox.

"It's inspiring to look at what some of these women have done and to listen to some of their life stories," Chana Schoenberger said Forbes' associate editor.

Senator Clinton dropped three spots, but gained the most media attention of any woman on the list this year.

"Certainly had she been the Democratic nominee that probably would have catapulted her higher," said Schoenberger. "She's still an incredibly powerful force."There are 54 business executives and 23 politicians on the list, with media personalities and heads of non-profit organisations rounding out the top 100. Forbes said 45 percent of the women are based outside the United States. One third of the women are new to the list, including Argentina's first popularly elected president, Cristina Fernandez,

Mrs Kelly declined to comment on her selection. Georgina Rinehart, daughter of former mining magnate Lang Hancock and chairman of Hancock Prospecting, squeaked onto the list at 98.

FORBES TOP 12

1 Angela Merkel Chancellor, Germany

2 Sheila C. Bair chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, US

3 Indra K. Nooyi chairman, chief executive, PepsiCo, US

4 Angela Braly chief executive, president, WellPoint, US

5 Cynthia Carroll chief executive, Anglo American, UK

6 Irene B. Rosenfeld chairman, chief executive, Kraft Foods, US

7 Condoleezza Rice US Secretary of State

8 Ho Ching chief executive, Temasek Holdings, Singapore

9 Anne Lauvergeon chief executive, Areva,

France

10 Anne Mulcahy chairman, chief executive, Xerox Corp, US

11 Gail Kelly chief executive and managing director, Westpac Australia

12 Patricia A. Woertz chairman, chief executive, president, Archer Daniels Midland, US

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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