Fortune has released their Businessperson of the Year list, and they’ve ranked Apple’s recently hired head of retail Angela Ahrendts as Number 4 on their list.
Ahrendts was already having a banner year as the CEO of British fashion house Burberry. The stock was up 29%, vs. the FTSE 100′s 10%, despite fears of a slowdown in greater China and continued ennui in Europe — when she shocked the luxury and tech worlds with news that she was decamping to Cupertino, Calif., to head up Apple’s retail and online stores. Ahrendts takes the reins in 2014, and she will oversee an operation with some $20 billion in annual sales (compared with Burberry’s $3.2 billion).
Ahrendts will leave her current position as Burberry CEO to start work at Apple as Senior Vice President of Retail in the Spring of 2014. She’ll play a large role in Apple’s continuing retail strategy. The company has gone for over a year without anyone in the position.
Apple CEO Time Cook is #47 on the list, a considerable drop from his #2 position in last year’s list.
