Forbes Ranks Chanda Kochar As Most Powerful Woman In India

The CEO and MD of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochar was named the most powerful woman in India and ranked 32nd in World's 100 Most Powerful Women list by Forbes. Last May, Kochhar became the first Indian woman to receive the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Award for Global Citizenship. Five Indian women have featured in the list of the world's 100 most powerful women compiled by Forbes, which was topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The other four Indians to have appeared in the list are CEO of HCL Enterprise Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of Biocon Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Hindustan Times Group Shobhana Bhartia and actress Priyanka Chopra. While Kochar took the 32nd position, HCL Corporation CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra was ranked 57 followed by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Founder-Chair, of Biocon, at 71. Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director for HT Media made it at the 92nd place and Priyanka Chopra, "the most successful Bollywood actor to cross over to Hollywood" was placed at 97. Women of Indian origin in the list include PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi at the 11th position while Indian American Nikki Haley has been placed 43rd. Merkel who has topped the list this year has retained the top spot for the seventh consecutive year and 12 times in total. She is followed by UK Prime Minister Theresa May at the second position, who is leading her country through Brexit. At third place is Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who, along with her husband Bill, has donated more than USD 40 billion in grants till date and supports organizations across over 100 countries. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, at the 4th position, and GM CEO Mary Barra (5th) rounded out the top five.