People To Watch In International Business

By Michele Orecklin Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001
    • SIDNEY HARMAN
    Audio executive

    At 83, Harman is still in the driver's seat as executive chairman of the Washington-based audio-technology firm Harman International Industries. In August, Harman, who is married to Democratic Representative Jane Harman of California, oversaw an $850 million deal to provide entertainment systems for Mercedes. The dashboard components--similar to those Harman already produces for Porsche, Audi and BMW--will replace a clutter of knobs and buttons with a single touchscreen panel that allows drivers to control not only temperature, navigation and stereo sound systems but also access to the Internet, e-mail and video.

    KEMAL DERVIS
    Turkish Economy Minister

    The former World Bank official was called home to Turkey in February and named Economy Minister. Confronting crippling debt, corruption and a lira that had lost nearly 50% of its value, Dervis, 52, set about implementing a recovery plan backed by nearly $16 billion from the IMF and the World Bank. Recent figures show the economy still faces daunting obstacles, but Dervis' actions, notably in bank reform, led a U.S. Treasury Department official last month to declare Turkey's reform efforts "remarkable."

    DEWI SUKARNO
    TV pitchwoman

    Stepmother of the current President of Indonesia and widow of a former President, Dewi is a TV celebrity in Japan, her native country. Glamorous at 61, Dewi is frequently asked her opinion on everything from political issues to the foibles of the famous. She's also not above promoting cockroach spray. Dewi does not appear to need the money--she has homes in New York City, Paris and Indonesia--but she clearly enjoys the attention.

    LAURA D'ANDREA TYSON
    Business educator

    Best known as Bill Clinton's National Economic Adviser, Tyson will become dean of the London Business School in January. Tyson, 54, is moving on from her post as dean of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, where she served as the only woman to head a major U.S. business school. Her task at LBS will be to make the school competitive with the top U.S. M.B.A. programs.

    AMANCIO ORTEGA
    Fashion retailer

    Ortega, 65, began producing clothes in the family kitchen in 1963; today, thanks to the May IPO of his textile company Inditex, he is Spain's wealthiest man. Inditex owns clothing chains in 34 countries, including the U.S. Zara, the best known, sells affordable copies of high-fashion originals soon after they hit the catwalk. Zara will increase its U.S. presence later this year by opening two stores in Miami, its first outlets outside New York City.