Fortune’s 2019 Businessperson of the Year is finally out. There are reasons to feel good about as India’s Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has topped the list. Nadella is not the only Indian origin CEO who has made it to the Top 20, Ajay Banga (Mastercard) is at 8th spot, and Jayshree Ullal (Arista Networks) ranked 18th. In 2018, Shantanu Narayan ( Adobe) was the only Indian CEO in the list.
The Fortune Business Person of the Year is based on a study and screening of public companies to identify the top contenders. The study takes in consideration a 12-month and 36-month increases in profits and revenue. Post this, the top contenders are weighed in on 10 key financial factors including increase in revenue, profits, stock performance – total return to shareholders, return on capital, etc. Apart from these financial factors, the intangibles like – business influence, strategic vision, impact of leadership are considered. Based on this, the leaders who have “tackled audacious goals, overcame impossible odds, found creative solutions”, are identified and ranked.
Let’s have a sneak peek on the profile of Indian Origin CEOs making to the list:
Satya Nadella: (Ranked top in the List)
- Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year 2019
- CEO of Microsoft Corp (Since 2014)
- Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992
- In 2019, Microsoft earned $39 billion on revenue of $126 billion. The revenue grew at a three-year compound annual rate of 11%. Profits by the same measurement have jumped to 24%
Satya Nadella hails from Hyderabad. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Mangalore University, a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago. He also serves on the board of trustees to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as well as the Starbucks Board of Directors. He is married and has three children.
Ajay Banga: (Ranked 8th in the list)
- CEO/President, Mastercard Inc (Since 2010)
- In 2019, Mastercard has emerged as a key player in the stock market, with its stock climbing more than 40%
- Honoured with Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2019 and Padma Shri in 2016
Apart from being a CEO of Mastercard, he is also continuously engaged in different projects and areas. During Obama’s tenure as President, he served as a member on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and also a member of the U.S. President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Ajay Banga is a graduate of Delhi University and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Jayshree Ullal: (Ranked 18th in the list)
- President/CEO, Arista Networks Inc (Since 2008)
- Total revenues of the company are up 37% over the last three years, and in the past quarter, revenues grew 16% year over year to $654 million
- One of America’s wealthiest female executives
Ullal was born in London and raised in India. She holds a B.S. in Engineering (Electrical) from San Francisco State University and an M.S. in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University.
HrNxt.com Newsdesk has researchers and writers with an excellent domain knowledge about the talent ecosystem, and the business environment. The team keeps a tab on the latest happenings in the ecosystem to bring most relevant news and insights for our readers. You can connect with our newsdesk at newsdesk@hrnxt.com.