Female Chiefs Making Historic Appointments In 2023

This year has seen some wins for gender diversity in leadership. These 10 notable companies appointed their first women CEOs in 2023, embracing a new era of inclusivity.

- JAMILA GANDHI

Margherita Della Valle 

Group CEO, Vodafone Headquarters: U.K.

Valle became Group CEO of Vodafone in January 2023, becoming the first woman to take the role at the telecom behemoth. She succeeded Nick Read, who left in December 2022. A member of the Vodafone Group Plc Board since July 2018, Valle previously served as group CFO from 2018 to 2023, deputy CFO from 2015 to 2018, and held various finance positions within Vodafone Italy. With a career spanning marketing, operations, and finance, Valle joined Vodafone in 1994 and played a pivotal role in the company's growth. In July 2020, she became a non-executive director of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc.

Stephanie Linnartz

CEO & President, Under Armour Headquarters: U.S.

In February, Linnartz made history by becoming the first female head in Under Armour's history, taking on the roles of president, CEO, and board member. She previously served as the president of Marriott International, where she shaped the company's global strategy, overseeing technology transformation and establishing partnerships with entities like the NFL, NCAA, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team. Today, Linnartz leads the athletic performance brand's growth strategy, emphasising brand heat, design innovation, and international sales expansion.

Shamsa Al-Falasi

CEO, Citibank, N.A. U.A.E. Regional Headquarters: U.A.E.