BLACK ENTERPRISE Announces 100 Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America

9 CEOs and 11 Division Chief Executives Highlight 2009 List
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
In the midst of one of the greatest economic trials in history, BLACK ENTERPRISE
reveals its list of the 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America as
featured in the publication`s February 2009 cover story. Against the current
backdrop of financial crisis and structural change, the publication conducted
six months of intensive research to identify dynamic, high-level professionals
who are leading and re-engineering a vast array of businesses. The final tally
includes nine CEOs, 11 division chief executives, and a host of top executives
that significantly contribute to their company`s revenues. Each executive holds
a senior management position at one of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies
or at an international corporation grossing revenues of $1 billion or more.

The nine African American executives who currently hold the title of CEO:

Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express

Steven A. Davis, Chairman & CEO, Bob Evans Farms Inc.

James H. Degraffenreidt Jr., Chairman & CEO, WGL Holdings Inc.

Roger W. Ferguson Jr., President & CEO, TIAA-CREF

Gary McCullough, President & CEO, Career Education Corp.

Rodney O`Neal, CEO & President, Delphi Corp.

Clarence Otis Jr., Chairman & CEO, Darden Restaurants

John W. Thompson, Chairman & CEO, Symantec Corp.

Ronald Williams, Chairman & CEO, Aetna

Nineteen companies have multiple executives on the list. American Express and
General Electric lead the way with four, followed by Ford Motor Co., Merck, and
Xerox with three. The fourteen companies that boast two executives on the list
are Aetna, AT&T, Citigroup, Delphi Corp., Dow Chemical, Eaton Corp., FedEx
Express, General Mills, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Leggett & Platt, PepsiCo,
TIAA-CREF, and Tyco International Ltd.

"Most people don`t realize that there is so much more than hard work needed to
restructure a division or run a global business," says Black Enterprise
Editorial Director Sonia Alleyne, who coordinated this massive editorial package
with Careers Editor Annya Lott and Contributing Editor Lois Barrett. "Today`s
leaders have to be mentally adept at managing corporate politics, the diverse
cultures of an expanding international workforce, as well as the racism and
sexism that still very much exists."

The altered landscape will undoubtedly force a new set of strategies for
productivity. "Delivering in good times is critical," offers Adriane Brown,
president and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems, "but the true test is how
you lead when market conditions are changing rapidly."

The selection criteria and comprehensive profiles of the 100 Most Powerful
Executives in Corporate America is available in the February 2009 issue of BLACK
ENTERPRISE, available on newsstands now.

BLACK ENTERPRISE, yourultimate source for wealth creation, is the premier
business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since
1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to
professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every
month, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine provides 4.1 million readers with information
on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE
also produces television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web
content, and digital media. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the definitive source of
information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the
authority on black business news and trends.

Press
BLACK ENTERPRISE
Andrew Wadium
Phone: 212-886-9598
Fax: 212-886-9557
Wadiuma@blackenterprise.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009