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ARMONK, N.Y. Virginia Rometty, the CEO, president and most recently chairman of Armonk-based IBM was named by Fortune Magazine as the "Most Powerful Woman in Business" in its issue set to come out Oct. 8.
In the issue, Fortune ranked the top 50 most powerful women with Rometty, 55, at number one. In Fortunes 2011 list, Rometty ranked number seven.
A 31-year IBM veteran, Rometty has been a key supporting player in some of Big Blue's biggest transformations: She managed the $3.5 billion PwC Consulting acquisition that launched IBM in the services business, and with chairman Sam Palmisano worked to develop the five-year growth plan. As CEO, she's now in charge of delivering on it, the Fortune article writes.
It is the eighth consecutive year Rometty has been featured on the Fortune list and the first time she was ranked number one.
Its a great honor for both Virginia and for our company, said Edward Barbini, a spokesperson with IBM.
Number two on the list is fellow Westchester-based PepsiCos CEO Indra Nooyi.
Last week, IBM announced Rometty was elected by the board of directors as the new chairman of the company board, effective Oct. 1.
Rometty became the companys first female CEO in January. She began working at the Armonk company in 1981 as IBMs sales and marketing chief.
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