Latin Business Chronicle announces its fourth annual list of Latin America's Top Businesswomen

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MIAMI, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty names comprise the list of Top Businesswomen in Latin America, released today by Latin Business Chronicle. This is the fourth year the ranking has been released. The list honors those women who have reached the top of their respective fields, and have a large influence on Latin American business. The list compiles women from oil and gas, banking, publishing, law, entrepreneurship, engineering, automotive, retail, IT, and others. There is also a mix of women who have climbed the corporate ladder to the top, women with long careers in public service, and women who manage large family companies.

These women are changing the dynamics and look of corporate boards in the region that have long been dominated by men. While Latin American women have achieved parity in healthcare and education, half the region's university graduates are now women. The picture is much less rosy in the business world. Women account for only 10.5 percent of all board positions globally – a number experts say is even smaller in Latin America.

Given these challenges, the achievements of those in this group are even more extraordinary. It includes Maria das Gracas Silva Foster, CEO of Petrobras, Latin America's largest company by revenues according to LBC's Latin 500. It also includes Claudia Sender, CEO of TAM, currently in the process of merging with LAN to create Latin America's largest airline. It also includes Brazilian "hospitality queen" Chieko Aoki, and champion of female empowerment in Mexico, Angelica Fuentes.

As the region's two largest economies, it is no surprise that Brazil and Mexico lead the list by number of entrants: Brazil counts 12 names, and Mexico 11. Both countries truly outpace much of the rest of the region for number of women in high-place positions. Following them in Latin America is Colombia – with seven entrants - a truly impressive feat for Latin America's fourth-largest economy. Other large economies, such as Chile and Venezuela, fare less well with only two entrants each.

All the women are models of what the next generation of Latin American women can achieve and work to achieve a more equal business climate. Those names on the list represent a group of women who have overcome tremendous challenges to make it to the top.

Latin Business Chronicle, a division of the Latin Trade Group, offers key market intelligence beyond the daily headlines, through extensive rankings, indexes, and statistics.

About Latin Trade Group

Latin Trade Group is a leading provider of information and business services to companies operating in Latin America. It publishes award-winning content in Spanish and English for distribution throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States through print, online media, and events. Latin Trade group publishes Latin Trade magazine, Latin Business Chronicle, and is the organizer of the Latin Trade Symposium and BRAVO Business Awards, the LT CFO Series for financial executives of multinational corporations and Trade Americas.

Contact:  Santiago Gutierrez, Executive Editor, Latin Trade Group, 57310-240-4415, [email protected]

SOURCE Latin Trade Group