NEW YORK – Citizens Financial Group’s Ellen Alemany, CEO, ranks No. 98 among the world’s 100 most powerful women, according to Forbes’ October 2010 list.
“They are heads of state and first ladies, bankers and cultural icons, CEOs and entrepreneurial athletes. A fresh look at power and creative influence,” said Forbes about the list. First lady Michelle Obama took the top spot, Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft Foods came in second and Oprah Winfrey ranked third.
“As steward of U.S. regional bank Citizens Financial Group, Alemany is finally breathing a sigh of relief. The bank’s U.K. parent, Royal Bank of Scotland, is returning to profitability, and she’s investing in automation upgrades and personnel,” said Forbes. The magazine also said Alemany sits on the Federal Advisory Council as well as the boards of the Center for Discovery, her handicapped daughter’s school, and the March of Dimes.
In her Forbes profile, Alemany is listed as 54 years old, a N.Y. resident, married with three children and has an MBA from Fordham University.
As for Massachusetts residents, Fidelity’s Abigail Johnson ranked No. 59, trailing Framingham resident and “retail guru” Carol Meyrowitz, CEO of TJX Cos. (TJ Maxx, Marshalls) at No. 54. Laura Sen, Natick resident and CEO of BJ’s Wholesale Club, took the No. 82 spot.
Cambridge-resident Elizabeth Warren, assistant to President Barack Obama and special adviser to the Secretary of Treasury, was ranked as the world’s 37th-most powerful women
University of Rhode Island graduates Christiane Amanpour, CNN anchor for “This Week,” and Nancy McKinstry, CEO of Dutch publisher Wolters Kluwer, take the No. 73 and No. 77 spots, respectively.
With all the American women of truly great accomplishment and power, how can anyone take Forbes list seriously when it places Michelle Obama at #1?