Renetta McCann

Renetta McCann, CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group, is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 41st (2007) most powerful woman in the world. Since becoming chief executive of Starcom MediaVest in 2005, McCann has made the company the largest media buyer in the world, with an 8% share of global media planning.

"I didn't set out to be a CEO," McCann told Black Enterprise magazine. "In fact, when I started in this business, it wasn't an option."

In 1978 McCann joined Chicago's Leo Burnett advertising agency as a client service trainee. One year later she was promoted to media supervisor, a position she held until 1982. From 1982-86, she was an assistant media director, From 1986-88, she served as a vice president at Leo Burnett, 1988-89, media director, 1989-95, senior vice president, 1995-99;

In 1999 Leo Burnett spon off its media department into Starcom Global, and McCann became chief executive officer of Starcom North America. "Going from media director to managing director was a big leap," she told Black Enterprise.

Starcom MediaVest Group has almost 100 offices in more than 70 countries. Buying more than $25 billion in advertising for clients and generating estimated revenue of $667.7 million, according to Advertising Age.

McCann is also on the board of Publicis Groupe Media, which directs the media networks of Publicis Groupe, the owner of Starcom.