Last month Magner, formerly chief administrative officer of Citigroup's massive consumer business, was promoted to chief operating officer. "She is one of the most capable people I've ever seen at communicating with all levels, from tellers to corporate customers," says Citigroup president Bob Willumstad. A Brooklyn College graduate, Magner, 52, began her finance career in the actuarial department of Equitable and later joined Chemical Bank as its first female MBA hire; there she worked with Willumstad, who later recruited her to Commercial Credit Corp.

One major achievement at Citi for Magner, a single mother with a 22-year-old son, was overseeing the company's successful $31.1 billion acquisition of Associates First Capital Corp. in November 2000. In her new role Magner will also serve as Willumstad's deputy and senior adviser. Says her longtime boss, "I've never seen anybody as good as she is."