Marissa Mayer
Marissa Mayer
In July, Marissa Mayer ended her 13-year stint at Google to take the reins at Yahoo, all while pregnant with her first child. The new mom and CEO multi-tasked her way through the challenges; she claims working at the struggling tech company is "fun" and that her son Macallister is "easy." Mayer admits a turnaround at Yahoo will take several years, but hopes to address the company's identity crisis by making its suite of desktop assets -- email, news, weather, stock quotes -- easily accessible on mobile devices; she also says she's focusing on employee performance rather than potential.In July, Marissa Mayer ended her 13-year stint at Google (GOOG) to take the reins at Yahoo , all while pregnant with her first child. The new mom and CEO multi-tasked her way through the challenges; she claims working at the struggling tech company is "fun" and that her son Macallister is "easy." Mayer admits a turnaround at Yahoo will take several years, but hopes to address the company's identity crisis by making its suite of desktop assets -- email, news, weather, stock quotes -- easily accessible on mobile devices; she also says she's focusing on employee performance rather than potential.
Marillyn Hewson
Marillyn Hewson
Initially slated to become the defense company's COO next month, Marillyn Hewson received an unexpected promotion in November when president and incoming CEO Chris Kubasik resigned after the discovery that he had had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Hewson, who takes over in January, has spent almost three decades at Lockheed Martin and currently runs its largest division, electronic systems.Initially slated to become the defense company's COO next month, Marillyn Hewson received an unexpected promotion in November when president and incoming CEO Chris Kubasik resigned after the discovery that he had had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Hewson, who takes over in January, has spent almost three decades at Lockheed Martin (LMT) and currently runs its largest division, electronic systems.
Phebe Novakovic
General Dynamics (GD) exec Phebe Novakovic enjoyed quite the career bump in May, when the former head of marine systems was named president and COO at the defense contractor. Just one month later, current CEO Jay Johnson announced his retirement and succession plan: Novakovic will replace him on January 1.
Ginni Rometty
Ginni Rometty
As she nears her one-year anniversary as president and CEO at Big Blue, IBM's Ginni Rometty has another title to cheer about: she was made chairman in October. Her future plans for the tech giant? The 31-year company veteran favors what she refers to as strategic beliefs over strategic planning. "Clients say, 'What's your strategy?' And I say, 'Ask me what I believe first.' That's a far more enduring answer."As she nears her one-year anniversary as president and CEO at Big Blue, IBM's (IBM) Ginni Rometty has another title to cheer about: she was made chairman in October. Her future plans for the tech giant? The 31-year company veteran favors what she refers to as strategic beliefs over strategic planning. "Clients say, 'What's your strategy?' And I say, 'Ask me what I believe first.' That's a far more enduring answer."
Sherilyn McCoy
Sherilyn McCoy
Andrea Jung passed the baton at Avon to former Johnson & Johnson exec Sheri McCoy in April, becoming the second ever woman-to-woman CEO handoff in the Fortune 500. McCoy inherited fallout from strategic missteps and a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation; she acknowledges the cosmetics icon's problems. "The challenges Avon is facing developed over time, not overnight, and the solutions will take time as well," McCoy told investors last month.Andrea Jung passed the baton at Avon (AVP) to former Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) exec Sheri McCoy in April, becoming the second ever woman-to-woman CEO handoff in the Fortune 500. McCoy inherited fallout from strategic missteps and a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation; she acknowledges the cosmetics icon's problems. "The challenges Avon is facing developed over time, not overnight, and the solutions will take time as well," McCoy told investors last month.
Laura Lang
Laura Lang
Laura Lang's professional background may not be in magazines, but the former CEO of ad agency Digitas has become fully immersed in the publishing world since her first day as Time Inc. (Fortune's parent company) chief last January. Lang's pushing to boost digital efforts at the company while staying true to the company's journalistic traditions.Laura Lang's professional background may not be in magazines, but the former CEO of ad agency Digitas has become fully immersed in the publishing world since her first day as Time Inc. (Fortune's parent company) chief last January. Lang's pushing to boost digital efforts at the company while staying true to the company's journalistic traditions.
Marianne Lake
Marianne Lake
Marianne Lake will join Asset Management CEO Mary Erdoes as the second woman on JP Morgan's 14-person operating committee when she becomes CFO in early 2013. Lake, who will report directly to CEO Jamie Dimon, was previously CFO of the bank's retail business and also assisted with due diligence before JP Morgan purchased Bear Stearns in 2008.Marianne Lake will join Asset Management CEO Mary Erdoes as the second woman on JP Morgan's (JPM) 14-person operating committee when she becomes CFO in early 2013. Lake, who will report directly to CEO Jamie Dimon, was previously CFO of the bank's retail business and also assisted with due diligence before JP Morgan purchased Bear Stearns in 2008.
Abigail Johnson
Abigail Johnson
The daughter of Fidelity Investments 82-year-old CEO Edward Johnson, Abigail Johnson's summer promotion to president at Fidelity quieted succession questions. Johnson, who's been at the firm for 24 years but flew under the public's radar, is reportedly very focused on customer needs. Her ascension has some hopeful she'll revive the company's image and attract new clients.The daughter of Fidelity Investments 82-year-old CEO Edward Johnson, Abigail Johnson's summer promotion to president at Fidelity quieted succession questions. Johnson, who's been at the firm for 24 years but flew under the public's radar, is reportedly very focused on customer needs. Her ascension has some hopeful she'll revive the company's image and attract new clients.
Ina Drew
Ina Drew
After 30 years in the industry, Ina Drew took the fall for JP Morgan in the wake of its infamous 'London Whale' trading fiasco, which resulted in at least $6.2 billion in losses for the bank. Though she helped chief Dimon weather the financial crisis in 2008, the stress of the failed trade led Drew to draft her resignation letter on Mother's Day, leaving the offices for good the following Monday afternoon.After 30 years in the industry, Ina Drew took the fall for JP Morgan (JPM) in the wake of its infamous 'London Whale' trading fiasco, which resulted in at least $6.2 billion in losses for the bank. Though she helped chief Dimon weather the financial crisis in 2008, the stress of the failed trade led Drew to draft her resignation letter on Mother's Day, leaving the offices for good the following Monday afternoon.
Jan Fields
Jan Fields
After 35 years at McDonald's, Jan Fields said her goodbyes in mid-November. The North American president, who began her tenure at the Golden Arches cooking fries, was ousted when sales took a hit for the first time since 2003. Already a director at Monsanto, Fields is hoping to add one more board seat to her resume -- and spend her free time focusing on women's empowerment, health, and nutrition.After 35 years at McDonald's (MCD), Jan Fields said her goodbyes in mid-November. The North American president, who began her tenure at the Golden Arches cooking fries, was ousted when sales took a hit for the first time since 2003. Already a director at Monsanto (MON), Fields is hoping to add one more board seat to her resume -- and spend her free time focusing on women's empowerment, health, and nutrition.
Angela Braly
Angela Braly
Since taking the reins at the healthcare giant in 2007, Angela Braly saw her fair share of challenges. Industry instability mixed with managerial errors -- as well as consumer outrage at a proposal to raise premium rates in California in 2010 -- led Wellpoint investors to call for Braly's resignation. She stepped down in August; the company continues to search for a permanent successor.Since taking the reins at the healthcare giant in 2007, Angela Braly saw her fair share of challenges. Industry instability mixed with managerial errors -- as well as consumer outrage at a proposal to raise premium rates in California in 2010 -- led Wellpoint (WLP) investors to call for Braly's resignation. She stepped down in August; the company continues to search for a permanent successor.
Lynn Elsenhans
Lynn Elsenhans
During her nearly four years leading Sunoco, Lynn Elsenhans aggressively steered the company away from refining and toward building pipelines before resigning in March. Sunoco lost $660 million during its fourth quarter last year, compared to a $119 million profit in 2010. Elsenhans, who also relinquished her chairman role in May, was the first woman to lead a major oil company.During her nearly four years leading Sunoco (SXL), Lynn Elsenhans aggressively steered the company away from refining and toward building pipelines before resigning in March. Sunoco lost $660 million during its fourth quarter last year, compared to a $119 million profit in 2010. Elsenhans, who also relinquished her chairman role in May, was the first woman to lead a major oil company.
Gina Drosos
Gina Drosos
Gina Drosos stepped down from her role as head of Procter & Gamble's beauty division in September. Drosos' unit had moved from Cincinnati to Singapore and the mother of teenagers cited her reluctance to relocate her children as a key factor in her decision. Deb Henretta, then-group president of P&G's beauty business in Asia, replaced Drosos, who says she has no plans to retire from business altogether.Gina Drosos stepped down from her role as head of Procter & Gamble's (PG) beauty division in September. Drosos' unit had moved from Cincinnati to Singapore and the mother of teenagers cited her reluctance to relocate her children as a key factor in her decision. Deb Henretta, then-group president of P&G's beauty business in Asia, replaced Drosos, who says she has no plans to retire from business altogether.
Susan Wagner
Susan Wagner
In June, Blackrock co-founder Susan Wagner stepped down from her role as vice chairman at the investment firm. Wagner oversaw the company's profitable acquisitions, like the 2009 purchase of Barclays Global Investors. Her departure came as a surprise to many. Ralph Schlosstein, another Blackrock co-founder who left in 2008, is now president and CEO of Evercore Partners. Could a similar leadership move be in Wagner's future?In June, Blackrock (BLK) co-founder Susan Wagner stepped down from her role as vice chairman at the investment firm. Wagner oversaw the company's profitable acquisitions, like the 2009 purchase of Barclays Global Investors. Her departure came as a surprise to many. Ralph Schlosstein, another Blackrock co-founder who left in 2008, is now president and CEO of Evercore Partners. Could a similar leadership move be in Wagner's future?
