Indians among Forbes’ Power Businesswomen 2015

A total of six incredible Indian businesswomen have entered Forbes’ fourth annual Asia’s 50 Power Businesswomen list.

These amazing women, each of whom have battled through ups-and-downs in their respective industries, are celebrated for initiating change and driving progress.

Together, they have taken India to second place in this year’s list, which is jointly dominated by female business moguls from China and Hong Kong.

The 2015 list welcomes 27 newcomers, one of which – Noni Purnomo from Indonesia – will appear on the cover of Forbes’ latest issue.

Forbes has set high criteria for the list, demanding candidates ‘to be active in the upper echelons of the business world in Asia, wield significant power and have access to robust financial resources’.

Among the six power women from India is Akhila Srinivasan, who heads two companies of Shriram Group, India’s largest financial conglomerate.

Akhila has propelled Shriram Life Insurance into one of the most profitable industry leaders within a decade. She is also the only woman on the board of Shriram Capital.

She founded the Shriram Foundation in 1993 to bring education to the less fortunate children in India and to provide microfinance services for female entrepreneurs.

Other Indian female business moguls on the list include the two most powerful bankers in India – Arundhati Bhattacharya, the Chairman of State Bank of India, and Chanda Kochhar, the Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank.

Another banker who joins the league is Shika Sharma, the Managing Director and CEO of Axis Bank which operates 2,500 branches and almost 13,000 ATMs across India.

Usha Sangwan, daughter of billionaire Lakshman Das Mittal and the first woman to become the Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India, also made the list.

Last but not least is Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. The biopharmaceutical has garnered the Global Economy Prize by Germany’s Kiel Institute and the Othmer Gold Medal by the US’s Chemical Heritage Foundation.

Here is the full list of Forbes’ 50 Most Powerful Businesswomen in Asia 2015:

Australia

• Gina Rinehart ~ Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting and Australia’s richest person with US$12.3 billion (£8 billion) in wealth
• Katie Page ~ CEO of Harvey Norman, one of Australia’s top retailers
• Shemara Wikramanayake ~ Head of Macquarie Funds at Macquarie Group

China

• Maggie Wu ~ CFO of Alibaba, who took the company to the New York Stock Exchange in 2014 in the world’s biggest IPO
• Lucy Peng ~ CEO of Ant Financial Services Group, and co-founder and CPO of Alibaba
• Sun Yafang ~ Chairman of Huawei Technologies, the world’s third biggest smartphone maker
• Cheng Xue ~ Vice Chairman of Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food, China’s largest soy sauce maker
• Wang Laichun ~ Chairman and co-founder of Luxshare Precision Industry
• Dong Mingzhu ~ Chairman and President of Gree Electric Appliances
• Li Dang ~ General Manager of China General Technology
• Kathy Xu ~ Founder and President of private equity firm Capital Today
• Zhang Xin ~ CEO and co-founder of Soho China, the largest prime office developer in China known for its unconventional and iconic buildings

Hong Kong

• Pansy Ho ~ Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings and co-chairman of MGM China. She is the daughter of casino tycoon Stanley Ho and the richest woman in Hong Kong.
• Sonia Cheng ~ CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group and Executive Director of New World Development. Her family founded and owns the world’s largest gold retailer, Chow Tai Fook.
• Rose Lee Wai Mun ~ Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank and a director for the Asia-Pacific branch of HSBC
• Solina Chau Hoi Shuen ~ co-founder of Horizons Ventures and Director of Li Ka Shing Foundation, chaired by the richest man in Asia
• Vivien Chen ~ Chairman and Managing Director of Nan Fung Group

India

• Akhila Srinivasan ~ Managing Director of Shriram Life Insurance and Non-Executive Director of Shriram Capital
• Arundhati Bhattacharya ~ Chairman of State Bank of India
• Chanda Kochhar ~ Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank
• Shika Sharma ~ Managing Director and CEO of Axis Bank
• Kiran Mazumdar Shaw ~ Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon

Indonesia

• Anne Patricia Sutanto ~ Vice President Director of Pan Brothers, Indonesia’s largest garment maker whose clients include Nike and Reebok
• Noni Purnomo ~ President and Director of Blue Bird Group Holding
• Wendy Sui Cheng Yap ~ President, Director and CEO of Nippon Indosari

Japan

• Mayumi Kotani ~ President and Representative Director of Yushin Precision Equipment
• Takako Suzuki ~ President, COO and Director of S.T. Corporation

Malaysia

• Tan Lei Cheng, Chairman and CEO of Goldis, a private equity investment company valued at US$430 million (£278 million)

Mongolia

• Garamjav Tseden ~ Chairman and Founder of Monpolymet Group, which specialises in construction, mineral exploration and land rehabilitation

Myanmar

• Win Win Tint ~ Managing Director of City Mart Holding

New Zealand

• Anne Norman ~ Co-Director of James Pascoe Ltd. Group, the largest jewellery company in Australasia

Philippines

• Helen Yuchengco Dee ~ Chairman of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
• Teresita Sy Coson ~ Vice Chairman of SM Investments and Chairman Banco de Oro Universal Bank
• Zenaida Rustia-Tantoco ~ Chairman and CEO of SSI Group and Rustan’s Commercial

Singapore

• Ho Ching ~ Executive Director and CEO of Temasek, a global investment powerhouse. Her husband is Singapore’s Prime Minister.
• Chua Sock Koong ~ Group CEO of Singtel, Southeast Asia’s largest telecom
• Chew Gek Khim ~ Executive Chairman of Straits Trading
• Ong Chih Ching, Founder and Chairman of KOP Group

South Korea

• Lee Boo-jin ~ President and CEO of Hotel Shilla, and President of Business Strategy of Cheil Industries.
• Hyun Jeong-eun ~ Chairman of Hyundai Group which specialises in shipping, machinery and North Korea operations
• Kim Eun Sun ~ Chairman and Co-CEO of Boryung Pharmaceutical Group

Taiwan

• Enid Huey-Chin Tsai ~ President of Hiwin Technologies

Thailand

• Sunee Seripanu ~ CEO and Chairman of MC Group
• Wandee Khunchornyakong ~ Chairman and CEO of SPCG
• Chadatip Chutrakul ~ CEO of Siam Piwat, Siam Paragon Development
• Somporn Juangroongruangkit ~ President and Director of Thai Summit Group
• Yuwadee Chirathivat Khun ~ CEO of Central Department Store Group

Vietnam

• Mai Kieu Lien ~ Chairman and CEO of Vinamilk, which owns 51 per cent of the liquid milk market in Vietnam
• Thai Huong ~ Chairman of TH Group, which is Vinamilk’s biggest competitor

The fight for gender equality in the workplace has come a long way. It is hoped that the increasing media interest in women in top positions will continue to advocate their rights and remove barriers for all walks of life.

DESIblitz congratulates these magnificent female leaders for being honoured by Forbes’ prestigious list!