president and CFO of Baxter International. Now Anderson helps OfficeMax develop strategies that will grow market share and fend off competitors such as Staples and Comp USA.The CPA holds an M.B.A. from Indiana University and sits on the board of directors of WW Grainger, where he chairs its audit committee. Anderson was the inaugural recipient of the chief financial officer of the year award from the Chicago chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute.
James A. Bell, Chief Financial Officer, Boeing, Age: 55, Since January 2004, Bell has been the top numbers man at the $54 billion aerospace and defense company. A 32-year veteran of corporate finance, Bell came to Boeing when the company purchased Rockwell International Corp.’s aerospace and defense units in 1996. He joined Rockwell as an accountant in 1972 and climbed the ladder to executive positions in auditing, program management, and finance. After Rockwell was acquired, Bell became vice president of contracts and pricing at former Rockwell units in Southern California. In 2000, he was named senior vice president of finance and corporate controller, the No. 2 financial management position. He’s proven himself a skilled manager who has intimate knowledge of Boeing’s strategy.
Y. Marc Belton, Sr. VP Yoplait GMI Canada & New Business Dev., General Mills, Age: 45, Keeping Yoplait one of the leading brands of yogurt in the U.S. is just one of Belton’s jobs. He currently oversees four business units, including Yoplait-Colombo, General Mills Canada, Small Planet Foods, and 8th Continent (a soy milk product), which is General Mills’ joint venture with DuPont. The Wharton M.B.A. graduate works closely with top management, developing new business initiatives. Before he became senior vice president, Belton held other top posts in other divisions in the company, such as the snacks division and new ventures. Prior to that he was president of Big G; he ran the company’s $2.3 billion cereal business, which includes popular household brands such as Wheaties, Cheerios, and Trix. Belton is a member of the Executive Leadership Council.
Donna A. James, President, Nationwide Strategic Investments, Age: 47, From Columbus, Ohio, to São Paulo, Brazil, Donna James is on your side-that is, if you’re one of her millions of clients. As president of the strategic investments division, James provides products and services that enable people to purchase homes, invest for retirement, and finance enterprises. James and her team manage five subsidiaries for the $16.8 billion insurer. These entities generate about $650 million in annual revenues and employ roughly 2,100 people. “We focus on innovations outside of the core businesses,” maintains James. “My job is to find new growth opportunities in financial services that are related to, but can be different from, what we do today.” Also focusing on small business development, she’s responsible for a portfolio of financial companies in mid- to late-stage development through Nationwide Mutual Capital, a $150 million venture capital fund. James also serves as a member of corporate executive management. Holding a bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina A&T State University, James