SM EVP makes it to Fortune’s elite list

HONG KONG (AFP) – Seventeen women from China, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines were among Fortune magazine’s 50 most influential women in international business, the US-based publication said yesterday.

Four Asian women were ranked in the top 10 – including Mary Ma, CFO of China’s Legend Group Holdings at fifth place, followed by Ho Ching, executive director of Singapore-based Temasek Holdings, Lien Siaou-Sze, senior vice president of Hewlett-Packard Services Asia Pacific in Singapore in eighth place and Eiko Kono, president of Recruit (Japan) in 10th place.

Teresita Sy-Coson, executive vice president of Manila’s SM Prime Holdings was in 39th place. Vidya Chabria, chairman of Jumbo Group of India took 44th place, while Naina Lal Kidwai, executive vice chairman and CEO of HSBC Securities and Capital Markets in India, was listed as the 50th most influential woman.

Marjorie Scardino, chief executive officer of Britain’s Pearson, was ranked the number one woman in international business, followed by Belinda Stronach, CEO and president of Canada’s Magna International, Anne Lauvergeon, executive chairman of France’s Areva, and Patricia Barbizet, chief executive of France’s Artemis.

In compiling the list, Fortune said although power was difficult to quantify, women are indeed a force to be reckoned with in the traditionally male-oriented business arena.

Fortune said however that "female corporate power is still spread unevenly across the business world," adding "many cultural, social and logistical issues conspire against women’s development in business, from stereotyping to maternity leave."

Other Asians on the list include Xie Qihua, vice chairman and president of Shanghai Baosteel Group, ranked 18, Nita Ing, chairman of Taiwan High-Speed Railway Corp. who was ranked 23, followed by Juliet Wu Shihong, vice president of China’s TCL Holdings and Chua Sock Koon, CFO of Singapore Telecommunication.

Pansy Ho, managing director of Shun Tak Holdings in Hong Kong was in 31st place, while Nina Wang, chairwoman of Chinachem (Hong Kong) came in at 35 followed by Marjorie Yang, chairman and CEO of Hong Kong’s Esquel Group.