Nooyi ranks 3rd on Fortune’s ‘The Most Powerful Women in Business 2014’ list

Fortune’s annual list of the most powerful women in Business featured PepsiCo. CEO, Indra Nooyi at the third position this year. The first position was acquired by IBM Chairman and CEO Ginni Rometty, followed by General Motors CEO Mary Barra.

Even though, last year, Nooyi had ranked second on the list, according to Fortune, she has been successful in increasing research and development spending by 25 per cent since 2011. The publication also revealed that last year, Pepsi Co.’s products like Starbucks Iced Coffee, Muller Quaker Yogurt, and Mountain Dew Kickstart; featured as 50 bestselling new food and beverage products in the US. The publication also said: “In July the company raised its profit growth forecast for the year, which should help Nooyi counter calls by activist investor Nelson Peltz to break up the food and beverage giant.”

For the second consecutive year IBM’s revenue declined by falling almost 5 % last year. Yet, the company’s revenue increased to 69 %. Ginni Rometty, who topped the list for the third time has been credited for this. Her feats include signing strategic partnerships with companies like Apple; who will now be providing IBM’s services on the iOS platform. The IBM Chairman and CEO will also be investing USD 1 billion in the development and commercialization of the cognitive computing system.

The Financial Express>

General Motors CEO Mary Barra, took a huge leap from the 29^th position on the list last year, to the second position.  Early this year, she became the auto industry’s first female CEO. Apart from these three women CEOs, the list also featured Lockheed Martin’s (aerospace and defense giant) Chairman, CEO and President, President Marillyn Hewson, right behind Nooyi.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: DNA

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-fortune-ranks-pepsi-ceo-indra-nooyi-3rd-most-powerful-women-in-business-2019763