2. Gail Kelly
Managing director and CEO
Westpac
2008 rank: 2
Country: Australia
In December of 2008 Kelly, 52, orchestrated a merger with St. George Bank, making Westpac Australia's largest bank with a market cap of $59 billion.
In a year where many banks reported losses or faced nationalization, Westpac saw revenues up 12% to $9 billion, and profits jumped 12% to $3.05 billion. In addition, Westpac kept its AA rating through the financial crisis, one of only eight banks in the world with that rating.
Kelly, who began her career as a teller in a bank in South Africa, is today the only woman CEO at a top 20 Australian Stock Exchange-listed company and serves on the board of the Melbourne Business School.
NEXT: 3. Marjorie Scardino
