Although women held just 9.8 percent of chief executive roles across S and P 500 companies in the first quarter of 2025, several high profile female leaders have recently taken charge of major global firms. From Wall Street to Shanghai, these appointments span banking, beauty, aviation, and technology, highlighting gradual but meaningful progress at the top of corporate leadership.
Kecia Steelman
President and Chief Executive Officer, Ulta Beauty
Sector Beauty and cosmetics
Headquarters United States
Kecia Steelman became President and Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Beauty in January 2025. She joined the company in 2014 and has held several senior leadership roles, including President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to Ulta, Steelman held executive positions at Family Dollar, Home Depot, and Target Corporation.
She now leads one of the largest beauty retailers in the United States as it accelerates international expansion. Ulta recently opened its first store in Mexico, operates a franchise in the Middle East, and owns Space NK, a luxury beauty retailer with a strong presence in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In the first half of fiscal 2025, Ulta reported net sales growth of 6.8 percent to 5.6 billion dollars, supported by comparable sales growth and the acquisition of Space NK.
Bonnie Brennan
Chief Executive Officer, Christie’s
Sector Auction and fine art
Headquarters United Kingdom
Bonnie Brennan assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Christie’s in February 2025, succeeding Guillaume Cerutti. She previously served as President of Christie’s Americas beginning in 2021. A veteran of the auction industry with nearly three decades of experience, Brennan joined Christie’s in 2012 after spending 15 years at Sotheby’s.
During her tenure in the Americas, she played a key role in driving regional growth, with the Americas accounting for 48 percent of Christie’s global auction sales. Brennan now leads the 259 year old auction house, which operates in 46 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, offering more than 80 art and luxury categories. In the first half of 2025, Christie’s reported projected auction sales of 2.1 billion dollars and an overall sell through rate of 88 percent.
Gunjan Kedia
Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Bancorp
Sector Banking and financial services
Headquarters United States
Image by Gunjan Kedia / LinkedIn
Gunjan Kedia became Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Bancorp in 2024, making her one of the most prominent female leaders in American banking. She joined the company in 2016 and has held a range of senior roles, including Vice Chair and head of wealth management and investment services. Prior to U.S. Bancorp, Kedia built a long career in financial services with leadership positions at State Street and BNY Mellon.
As chief executive, Kedia oversees one of the largest commercial banks in the United States, serving millions of consumers, businesses, and institutional clients. Her leadership has focused on disciplined growth, digital modernization, and risk management in a volatile economic environment, reinforcing the bank’s reputation for stability while positioning it for long term transformation.Kedia was appointed CEO of U.S. Bancorp – the nation’s fifth-largest bank by assets – in April 2025. A 30-year financial services veteran, she joined the bank in 2016 and most recently served as president, overseeing revenue lines. Before that, she held senior roles at State Street Financial, BNY, McKinsey & Company, and PwC. Named among Forbes’ 2024 Class of 50 Over 50 women in the investment category, she also serves on the boards of PBS and the American Red Cross. As of September 2025, U.S. Bancorp had $695.4 billion in assets, and reported net income of $5.5 billion in the first nine months of 2025.
Marguerite Bérard
Chair and CEO, ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Sector: Banking & Financial Services
Headquarters: Netherlands
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. has appointed Bérard as its first-ever female CEO in April 2025, marking a historic milestone for the 300-year-old Dutch lender. She will succeed Robert Swaak, who unexpectedly announced his departure last year. Bérard previously led French commercial and personal banking at BNP Paribas. The Dutch government, the bank’s largest shareholder, is gradually reducing its stake, which stood at around 30.5% last September. In H1 2025, the Netherlands’ third-largest bank reported a net profit of $1.4 billion.
Dora Liu
CEO, Deloitte China
Sector: Professional Services
Headquarters: China
Liu became Deloitte China’s first female CEO from its local talent pool in mainland China in June 2025, succeeding Patrick Tsang after his two terms. Liu joined Deloitte Shanghai office in 1993 and has built over 30 years of experience serving major financial institutions, including the Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of Communications. With over 20,000 professionals across 31 Chinese cities, Deloitte China is part of Deloitte Asia Pacific and one of the region’s largest professional services networks, providing audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services to clients across industries.
Priya Nair
CEO & Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever Limited
Sector: Consumer Goods
Headquarters: India
Nair was appointed CEO and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) in August 2025, continuing as a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive. A Unilever veteran since 1995, she now leads one of the company’s largest markets, reaching nine in ten Indian households. Before this role, she served as President of Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, overseeing a $15 billion portfolio across over 20 markets, and previously as Global CMO for the same division. In the second quarter of 2025, HUL – a leading FMCG company listed on two major Indian stock exchanges, BSE and NSE – reported 5% growth in underlying sales.
Cindy Rose
CEO, WPP
Sector: Advertising & Marketing Services
Headquarters: U.K.
Rose became CEO of WPP in September 2025, succeeding Mark Read after seven years at the helm. A dual British-American citizen, she brings over 25 years of experience across technology, media, entertainment and creative industries and telecommunications. Rose joins from Microsoft, where she was COO of Global Enterprise and previously led Microsoft Western Europe and Microsoft U.K. A WPP board member since 2019, she steps in as the advertising giant faces profit downgrades, client losses, and cost savings amid AI-driven shifts and economic uncertainty. Listed in London and New York, WPP’s share price has declined by 53.5% this year, dropping to $23.92 as of October 23, 2025, bringing its market capitalization to $5.2 billion.
Diana Birkett Rakow
CEO, Hawaiian Airlines
Sector: Aviation
Headquarters: U.S.
Image by Alaska Air Group
Birkett Rakow was appointed CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, effective October 29, 2025, succeeding Joe Sprague. She joined Alaska Airlines eight years ago and most recently served as senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability. Based in Honolulu, the company’s second-largest hub after Seattle, she will oversee the long-term performance of the Hawaiian Airlines brand and Alaska Air Group’s business in Hawai‘i. In September 2024, Alaska Airlines completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, leading to the delisting of Hawaiian Airlines from the New York Stock Exchange.
Catherine Clay
CEO, S&P Dow Jones Indices
Sector: Index & Market Analytics
Headquarters: U.S.
S&P Dow Jones Indices, the world’s leading provider of financial market benchmarks, has appointed Clay as CEO, effective November 1, 2025. She succeeds Dan Draper, who will stay on as Special Advisor for a period. Clay joins from Cboe Global Markets, where she served as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Derivatives, overseeing global options, futures, and data operations. S&P Global, the parent company of S&P Dow Jones Indices, reported second-quarter 2025 revenue of $3.8 billion, up 6% year-on-year.
Zoë Yujnovich
Chief Executive, National Grid
Sector: Utilities
Headquarters: U.K.
Image by Zoë Yujnovich / LinkedIn
Yujnovich was appointed Chief Executive of U.K.’s National Grid effective November 17, 2025 succeeding John Pettigrew after nearly a decade in the role. She joins from Shell, where she served as Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, and previously held senior positions at Rio Tinto. She is also a Non-Executive Director at Unilever plc. National Grid, a FTSE 100 company listed on both the London and New York Stock Exchanges, owns and operates electricity and gas transmission networks across the U.K. and the U.S. With a market cap of $76.3 billion as of October 22, 2025, it is one of the world’s largest publicly listed utilities, connecting millions to energy.
