Women on Top

By Joanna Miller in News on Sep 5, 2006 8:50PM

Forbes’ 2006 list of “100 most powerful women” includes five Chicago-area names. The most powerful woman in Chicago? Sara Lee Chairman and CEO Brenda Barnes, who came in at No. 9. Cause nobody doesn't like Sara Lee.

Irene Rosenfeld, the new CEO of Northfield-based Kraft Foods is No. 11. Both women beat out Oprah, who is ranked 14th.

No. 27 is Renetta McCann, CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group, and No. 80 is Christie Hefner, chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, and Hugh’s daughter.

But the most powerful woman in Illinois doesn’t work in Chicago, not even the suburbs. The 7th most powerful woman in the world is Patricia Woertz (pictured), president and CEO of Decatur-based agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland. She took over the $36 billion company earlier this year after 29 years at Chevron Corp.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a newcomer to the list, knocked U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice out of the No. 1 spot.