'Human Resource Executive' Magazine Announces Its Top 25 Women in HR Leadership.

HORSHAM, Pa., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- "Human Resource Executive" magazine announced today its selections of the top 25 most powerful women in HR. Honorees - who were profiled in the magazine's April 2005 cover story - were chosen from public- and private-sector organizations representing a wide array of services and industries, including computer technology; printing and publishing; banking, insurance and finance; telecommunications and postal delivery; and sales and manufacturing.

In making its selections, the magazine's editorial board reviewed more than 100 submissions from the nominees' staff, colleagues and peers, as well as additional input from HR analysts, academicians and experts.

Editor David Shadovitz says the honorees represent "women at the highest level of strategic HR leadership who are handling some of the biggest challenges in the profession today with sound business knowledge, creativity and a sense of personal and professional priorities that make them true leaders."

In reviewing the women's responses to the magazine's individual questionnaires, Managing Editor Kristen B. Frasch notes that, "While many admit they still face the challenges of making strides in a male-dominated corporate environment, they also - almost across the board - emphasize that success is not reached by lamenting or fighting the glass ceiling, but in knowing how your company makes money, how your business operates and how the HR function contributes to the bottom line."

"What these women have achieved, and overcome, is profound," Frasch adds. "Their achievements and lessons learned provide valuable insight into what successful HR leadership is - not just for women, but for everyone. Each one of these honorees is worth a separate feature story of her own."

Collectively and listed in alphabetical order, the 25 women include: Patti Ayars, SVP of HR and corporate communications, Roche Diagnostics; Kathleen S. Barclay, VP of global HR, General Motors Corp.; Mary Jean Connors, SVP, Knight Ridder Inc.; Susan J. Cook, VP of HR, Eaton Corp.; Joan Crockett, SVP of HR, Allstate Insurance Co.; Sheila Kearney Davidson, VP and general counsel, New York Life Insurance Co.; Kate DCamp, SVP of HR, Cisco Systems Inc.; Mirian Graddick-Weir, EVP of HR, AT&T; Jean M. Halloran, SVP of HR, Agilent Technologies; Bonnie C. Hathcock, SVP and chief HR officer, Humana Inc.; Karen Jennings, SEVP of HR and communications, SBC Communications Inc.; Jacqueline Kane, SVP of HR, The Clorox Co.; Terry Kassel, SVP of HR, Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.; Gail T. Lovelace, chief people officer, General Services Administration; Suzanne F. Medvidovich, SVP of HR, United States Postal Service; Patricia Nazemetz, VP of HR, Xerox Corp.; Nancy A. Rae, SVP of HR, DaimlerChrysler Corp.; Nancy Reardon, SVP and chief HR and communications officer, Campbell Soup Co.; Eva Sage-Gavin, EVP of HR, Gap Inc.; Anne deBruin Sample, SVP of worldwide HR, PepsiAmericas; Libby Sartain, SVP of HR and chief people Yahoo, Yahoo!; Laurie Siegel, SVP of HR, Tyco International; Jill B. Smart, managing partner of HR, Accenture; Lea Soupata, SVP of HR, United Parcel Services Inc.; and Susan Toy Stern, chief deputy director, County of Los Angeles.

"Human Resource Executive," a leading magazine for the heads of human resource organizations, is published by LRP Publications.

CONTACT: Terri Garrison, "Human Resource Executive," [phone], ext. 6342