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This article was first published 10 years ago

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

November 08, 2013 15:49 IST

Image: Chanda Kochchar
Photographs: Reuters Rediff Business Desk

ICICI Bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar has been ranked as the most powerful businesswoman in India for the third consecutive year by Fortune Magazine.

Chanda Kochchar who heads ICICI Bank, began her career as a management trainee in 1984 and successfully rose through the ranks.

She has been named a ‘Woman of Power’ by the Asian Business Leadership Forum. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the government for her services to the banking sector.

"Whether it's heading the Indian operations of an energy multinational or the world's largest coffee chain, women are getting more visible in India Inc," the magazine said.

In the Fortune list of 50 most powerful businesswomen, there are six new entrants -- Yasmine Hilton, Chairperson Shell India; Vanitha Naraynan, MD, IBM India; Anita Dongre, Founder, Anita Dongre; N Bhuvaneswari, Vice Chairman and MD, Heritage Foods; Ashu Suyash, CEO, L&T Investment Management and Awani Saglani Davda, CEO, Tata Starbucks India.

Inputs: PTI

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

Image: Shikha Sharma
Photographs: Courtesy, Axis Bank.

Shikha Sharma
CEO, Axis Bank

Rank: 2

Shikha Sharma started her career with ICICI, India's largest financial service provider in 1980. 


In 1998, she became the Managing Director of ICICI Personal Financial services. Shikha Sharma also served as the Director of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company till April 2009. 

She is the Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director of Axis Bank Limited and Chairperson and associate Director of Axis Asset Management company Limited since June 1, 2009. 

...

 

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

Image: Aruna Jayanthi

Aruna Jayanthi
CEO, Capgemini India
 
Rank: 3

Aruna Jayanthi is the Chief Executive Officer of Capgemini India, one of the biggest business units of Capgemini group.

A person with over 2 decades experience in the IT services industry, Aruna oversees the operations across all the business units – Consulting, Technology services and outsourcing services in India.

Earlier, Aruna was the Global Delivery Officer for Capgemini Outsourcing, where she improved quality, productivity and profitability of Capgemini’s outsourcing operations worldwide.

...

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

Image: Preetha Reddy
Photographs: Courtesy, Apollo group.

Preetha Reddy

Managing Director, Apollo Hospital Enterprises

Rank: 4

Preetha Reddy joined Apollo Hospitals as Joint Managing Director in 1989 and five years later, she became the Managing Director of the Group. 

Preetha steers the operations of the Apollo Hospitals group and works closely with the clinicians to continually raise the bar for clinical outcomes. 

...

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

Image: Mallika Srinivasan

Mallika Srinivasan
CEO, TAFE

Rank: 5

Mallika Srinivasan is known for developing TAFE into one of the three largest tractor manufacturers in the world.

Mallika Srinivasan was ranked second in last year’s list.

She is on the Board of AGCO Corporation - USA, Tata Steel and Tata Global Beverages.

...

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen


Shobhana Bhartia
Chairperson, HT Media

Rank: 6

Shobhana Bhartia, who has been associated with HT Media since its inception, took over as the Chairperson in September 2008. 

Bhartia with more than 25 years of experience in the newspaper industry is in charge of formulating and directing the editorial policies of the company.

...

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen


Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Chairperson and MD, Biocon

Rank: 7

From being ranked 16th in the most powerful list last year, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has made rapid strides to break into the top 10 league.

Under Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's leaderhip, Biocon has transformed into a fully integrated biopharmaceutical enterprise. 

Her pioneering efforts in biotechnology have drawn global recognition both for Indian Industry and Biocon.

...

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

Image: Zia Mody
Photographs: Courtesy, law.harvard.edu.

Zia Mody
Co-founder, AZB Partners

Rank: 8

Zia Mody joined as an advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa in 1978 after her LLM from HarvardLawSchool. 

She started practice as a corporate associate with Baker & McKenzie in New York from 1979 to 1983. 

In 1984, she started her own practice and later entered into a partnership with the law firm called AZB & Partners, Advocates & Solicitors.

...

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

Image: Vinita Bali.
Photographs: Courtesy, Britannia Industries

Vinita Bali
MD, Britannia Industries

Rank: 9

Vinita Bali became the Managing Director of Britannia Industries on 31 May 2006. 

Vinita was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company in January 2005.

She has also worked with Coca-Cola as its worldwide Marketing Director.

In 2011, Forbes named her among ‘Asia's 50 Power Businesswomen’.

...

India's 10 most powerful businesswomen

Image: Naina Lal Kidwai
Photographs: Reuters

Naina Lal Kidwai

Country Head, HSBC India

Rank: 10

Naina Lal Kidwai, a chartered accountant by profession is currently the Group General Manager and Country Head of HSBC India. 

From 1982-1994 she worked at ANZ Grindlays, where her assignments included Head of the Investment Bank, Head of Global NRI Services and Head of the Western India, Retail Bank.

Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms, Chitra Ramkrishna of National Stock Exchange and Renu Sood Karnad of HDFC are also listed in the most powerful businesswomen list.