Top woman
August 20, 2009
The magazine highlighted Merkel's role as leader of the huge German economy and her likely re-election in September. She was lauded for her efforts in overhauling the German health and tax systems and strict line on curbing expanding European Union budgets.
She has topped the list four times since becoming the first female chancellor of Germany in 2005.
Merkel was among only four non-American women to make the top 10. Britain's Cynthia Carroll, chief executive at Anglo American – one of the world's largest diversified mining and natural resource groups – came in fourth. Ho Ching, the chief executive of investment giant Temasek Holdings in Singapore, came fifth. Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive of France's nuclear power company Areva, came in at number nine.
The 2009 list was dominated by businesswomen, mostly from the United States.
In second place came Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), which insures US banks. Third was Indra Nooyi, chief executive at PepsiCo.
US women in politics follow business figures
Hillary Clinton slipped from 28 last year, when she was close to winning the Democratic presidential nomination to 36, despite heading the powerful US State Department. She was preceded on the list by Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives.
Michelle Obama appeared on the list for the first time, ranking 40th.
Two notches below her, at 42, came Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
"Women in power are rising to leadership positions in business, government and philanthropy by making daring and unconventional moves," Forbes said. "Gone are the days of women feeling they must stick with one employer and patiently wait for promotions."
"Highly ambitious women ... are moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience," the business magazine said.
The list is based on factors such as economic impact, media reach and career accomplishments.
nda/AFP/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Nancy Isenson