OREANDA-NEWS. Olga Pleshakova, the CEO of Transaero Airlines, has been awarded a leading ranking in Fortune magazine’s annual index of the world’s most powerful women.

She is the only Russian listed by the US business magazine and is ranked 20th most powerful woman in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

Fortune’s international rankings are published annually based on analysis of global companies’ activities. The rankings are compiled by Fortune editors, who consider four criteria: the size and importance of the woman's business in the global economy, the health and direction of the business, the progression of the woman's career and social and cultural influence.

For the first time, Fortune has re-organised its lists on a regional basis, with separate lists for EMEA, Asia-Pacific and North America.It is the third year in a row that Olga Pleshakova has featured in the “Most Powerful Women” listing.

Olga Pleshakova has been CEO of Transaero, the largest privately- owned international airline in Russia, since 2001, becoming the first Russian women to lead a major airline.