The 100 Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America

In the midst of one of the greatest economic trials in history, Black Enterprise reveals its list of the 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America as featured in the publication's February 2009 cover story. Against the current backdrop of financial crisis and structural change, the publication conducted six months of intensive research to identify dynamic, high-level professionals who are leading and re-engineering a vast array of businesses. The final tally includes nine CEOs, 11 division chief executives, and a host of top executives that significantly contribute to their company's revenues. Each executive holds a senior management position at one of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies or at an international corporation grossing revenues of $1 billion or more.

The nine African American executives who currently hold the title of CEO:

• Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express
• Steven A. Davis, Chairman & CEO, Bob Evans Farms Inc.
• James H. Degraffenreidt Jr., Chairman & CEO, WGL Holdings Inc.
• Roger W. Ferguson Jr., President & CEO, TIAA-CREF
• Gary McCullough, President & CEO, Career Education Corp.
• Rodney O'Neal, CEO & President, Delphi Corp.
• Clarence Otis Jr., Chairman & CEO, Darden Restaurants
• John W. Thompson, Chairman & CEO, Symantec Corp.
• Ronald Williams, Chairman & CEO, Aetna

Nineteen companies have multiple executives on the list. American Express and General Electric lead the way with four, followed by Ford Motor Co., Merck, and Xerox with three. The fourteen companies that boast two executives on the list are Aetna, AT&T, Citigroup, Delphi Corp., Dow Chemical, Eaton Corp., FedEx Express, General Mills, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Leggett & Platt, PepsiCo, TIAA-CREF, and Tyco International Ltd.

"Most people don't realize that there is so much more than hard work needed to restructure a division or run a global business," says Black Enterprise Editorial Director Sonia Alleyne, who coordinated this massive editorial package with Careers Editor Annya Lott and Contributing Editor Lois Barrett. "Today's leaders have to be mentally adept at managing corporate politics, the diverse cultures of an expanding international workforce, as well as the racism and sexism that still very much exists."

The altered landscape will undoubtedly force a new set of strategies for productivity. "Delivering in good times is critical," offers Adriane Brown, president and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems, "but the true test is how you lead when market conditions are changing rapidly."

The selection criteria and comprehensive profiles of the 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America is available in the February 2009 issue of Black Enterprise, available on newsstands now.

Black Enterprise, your ultimate source for wealth creation, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, Black Enterprise magazine provides 4.1 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE also produces television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content, and digital media. Black Enterprise is the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the authority on black business news and trends.

SOURCE: Black Enterprise