Samuel L. Jackson Set To Host The "BET AWARDS 12"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON. (PRNewsFoto/BET Networks)

22 May 2012 21:30 Africa/Lagos

The Highest Grossing Movie Actor Of All Time Samuel L. Jackson Set To Host The "BET AWARDS 12"

Kanye West Leads the Pack with 7 Nominations, Beyonce Close Behind with 6 Nominations and Jay-Z Rounds Things Out with 5 Nominations

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly To Be Honored with the 'Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award'

Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj Confirmed As the First Performers For This Year's Award Show
LIVE from the Historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 8:00 pm* on BET

NEW YORK, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This year the BET AWARDS 12 (#BETAWARDS) will be 'Too Big To Miss.' Earlier today at a press conference held in BET's New York studios, it was announced that actor Samuel L. Jackson , declared the highest grossing movie actor of all time according to the Guinness Book of World Records, will be this year's BET AWARDS host. In addition, the members of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly were announced to be the prestigious recipients of the 'Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award;' and Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj were revealed as the first confirmed performers.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120522/NE12049 )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

Respectfully labeled as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, Samuel L. Jackson is an undisputed star as demonstrated in the fact that his films have grossed the most money in box office sales than any other actor in the history of filmmaking. Currently, the Oscar-nominated actor is on screen in "The Avengers," which is part of his 9-picture deal with Marvel Studios. The highly anticipated film opened on May 4, 2012 to a record shattering $200 million opening weekend.

"We are massively excited about having Sam Jackson, the world's biggest box office star, host The BET Awards 12," said Stephen G. Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks. "His wit, presence and gigantic personality are the perfect match for our show."

On hand from BET's NYC studios to announce the nominees for the BET AWARDS 12 were Mindless Behavior, Big Sean, Melanie Fiona, DJ Khaled, Astro, A$AP Rocky and Diggy, along with the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award honorees Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

The BET AWARDS is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The BET AWARDS franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers and athletes in 20 categories. Leading the pack of A-list talent this year is Kanye West with an impressive 7 Nominations: Best Collaboration, Video Director of the Year, and 5 notable nominations for 'The Throne' with Jay-Z. 'The Throne' received nominations for Best Group, Best Collaboration ft. Otis Redding, Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice and 2 nods for Video of the Year for "N*ggas in Paris" and "Otis." Close behind is Beyonce with 6 Nominations: Best Female R&B Artist, Best Collaboration, Video Director of the Year, Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice and 2 nods for Video of the Year for "Countdown" and "Love on Top."

"We have many more acts to come," added Hill, "but we're proud to have the dynamic Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj as our first-announced performers. The Shrine Auditorium will be shaking for the R&B stalwarts Maze featuring Frankie Beverly as they receive the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award. We're just getting started and already the show is living up to its slogan: it's too big to miss."


The nominees for the BET AWARDS 12 include:

Best Female R&B Artist
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyonce
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher


Best Group
Bad Meets Evil
Diddy-Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
Mindless Behavior
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Best Collaboration
Beyonce f/ J. Cole – "Party"
Big Sean f/ Kanye West & Roscoe Dash – "Marvin & Chardonnay"
DJ Khaled f/ Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – "I'm On One"
Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga – "The Motto"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding – "Otis"
Wale f/ Miguel – "Lotus Flower Bomb"

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Big Sean
Drake
J. Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Diamond
Nicki Minaj
Brianna Perry
Trina


Video of the Year
Beyonce – "Countdown"
Beyonce – "Love On Top"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – "N***as in Paris"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding – "Otis"
Usher – "Climax"

Video Director of the Year
Beyonce & Alan Ferguson
Benny Boom
Chris Brown & Godfrey Tabarez
Kanye West
Hype Williams

Best New Artist
A$AP Rocky
Big Sean
Diggy
Future
Meek Mill

Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams
Kim Burrell
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana

Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Idris Elba
Kevin Hart
Denzel Washington

YoungStars Award
Astro
Diggy
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith

Best Movie
Good Deeds
Jumping The Broom
Laugh At My Pain
Red Tails
The Help

Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Skylar Diggins
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
LeBron James

Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award
Beyonce – "Love On Top"
Chris Brown – "Turn Up the Music"
Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga – "The Motto"
Mindless Behavior – "Hello"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding – "Otis"
Wale f/ Miguel – "Lotus Flower Bomb"

Centric Award
Common
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese

Best International Act: Africa
Camp Mulla (Kenya)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Lira (South Africa)
Mokobe (Mali)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best International Act: UK
Estelle
Labrinth
Emeli Sande
Sway
Wretch 32

www.BET.com/BETAwards is the official site for the BET AWARDS 12 where fans can visit to vote for the Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award, get up-to-date info on this year's show and take a look back on past BET AWARDS. In the coming weeks, BET.com will launch a series of interactive games to make the BET AWARD's digital experience the biggest it's ever been.

"Too Big To Pick" let's fans predict who they think will win the coveted BET AWARD and compare their picks with their Facebook friends.
"The Line-Up" is a fantasy sports styled game that allows viewers to make predictions on the order performers will appear in the show and compare this line-up with their Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and their favorite celebrities.

In June, BET Mobile will also be launching the official BET AWARDS app on iPhone and Android devices with exclusive photo, video and interactive content.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET's multiple social media platforms:

On Twitter by using hashtag: #BETAWARDS, #2BIG2MISS; and following us @BETAWARDS.
On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/TheBETAwards
On Google plus at bet.us/gplusBET

The BET AWARDS 12 will premiere Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 8:00PM BST across BET's international platforms in the UK and Africa.

Stephen G. Hill, BET's President of Music Programming and Specials, Lynne Harris Taylor, BET's Vice President of Specials, will serve as Executive Producers for the BET AWARDS 12, along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.

Official sponsors of The BET AWARDS 12 include Cadillac®, Coca-Cola®, Ford®, State Farm® and Subway®.

About Samuel L. Jackson

Respectfully labeled as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, Jackson is an undisputed star as demonstrated in the fact that his films have grossed the most money in box office sales than any other actor in the history of filmmaking. Jackson made an indelible mark on American cinema with his portrayal of 'Jules', the philosophizing hitman, in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction." In addition to unanimous critical acclaim for his performance, he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Supporting Actor as well as a Best Supporting Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Jackson recently made his Broadway debut at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater in Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, co-starring Angela Bassett and directed by Kenny Leon. The Mountaintop is set on the eve of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom Jackson portrays. The play ended its run on January 22, 2012. Jackson is currently in production on Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained." Jackson plays the role of 'Stephen,' alongside Christoph Waltz as 'Dr. King Schultz,' Jamie Foxx as 'Django' and Leonardo DiCaprio as 'Calvin Candie.' "Django Unchained" is set in the Deep South during the 1850s and tells the story of a slave-turned-bounty hunter setting out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Jackson is currently on screen in "The Avengers," which is part of his 9-picture deal with Marvel Studios. The highly anticipated film opened on May 4, 2012 to a record shattering $200 million opening weekend. Recently, Jackson was seen in HBO's "The Sunset Limited," an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's play. Tommy Lee Jones co-starred and directed the telefilm. On television, in addition to "The Sunset Limited," Jackson starred in John Frankenheimer's Emmy Award-winning "Against the Wall" for HBO. His performance earned him a Cable Ace nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.

About Jesse Collins Entertainment

Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service film and television production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. Over the past decade, Collins, the company's CEO, has played an integral role in producing some of television's most memorable moments in the music entertainment arena. Formerly Executive Producer/Executive Vice President of Cossette Productions, Collins has produced award winning television programming including the Grammy Awards, the BET AWARDS, BET Honors and BET's Rip the Runway and has worked with superstar talent such as Will Smith, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Kid Rock, Lil Wayne and many more.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET operates in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Follow us on Twitter @ BET_PR and @BETAwards


SOURCE BET Networks

CONTACT: Marcy Polanco, +1-212-975-3327, Marcy.Polanco@BET.net; Zabrina Horton, +1-310-481-3737, Zabrina.Horton@BET.net

Web Site: http://www.bet.com

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Cuba is Far Ahead of America in HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention

Juan Carlos Miranda, an AIDS patient, with Dr. Victor Maracha at an AIDS treatment sanitarium near Havana.

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.

Fidel Castro Foretold the Pandemic before any American President even uttered the word AIDS.
Fidel Castro reads a lot. That is why he sees far ahead of others.



HAVANA — Yudelsy García O’Connor, the first baby known to have been born with H.I.V. in Cuba, is not merely still alive. She is vibrant, funny and, at age 25, recently divorced but hoping to remarry and have children.

Her father died of AIDS when she was 10, her mother when she was 23. She was near death herself in her youth.

“I’m not afraid of death,” she said. “I know it could knock on my door. It comes for everyone. But I take my medicine.”

Ms. García is alive thanks partly to lucky genes, and partly to the intensity with which Cuba has attacked its AIDS epidemic. Whatever debate may linger about the government’s harsh early tactics — until 1993, everyone who tested positive for H.I.V. was forced into quarantine — there is no question that they succeeded.

Cuba now has one of the world’s smallest epidemics, a mere 14,038 cases. Its infection rate is 0.1 percent, on par with Finland, Singapore and Kazakhstan. That is one-sixth the rate of the United States, one-twentieth of nearby Haiti.

The population of Cuba is only slightly larger than that of New York City. In the three decades of the global AIDS epidemic, 78,763 New Yorkers have died of AIDS. Only 2,364 Cubans have.

Other elements have contributed to Cuba’s success: It has free universal basic health care; it has stunningly high rates of H.I.V. testing; it saturates its population with free condoms, concentrating on high-risk groups like prostitutes; it gives its teenagers graphic safe-sex education; it rigorously traces the sexual contacts of each person who tests positive.

By contrast, the response in the United States — which records 50,000 new infections every year — seems feeble. Millions of poor people never see a doctor. Testing is voluntary, and many patients do not return for their results. Sex education is so politicized that many schools teach nothing about protected sex; condoms are expensive, and distribution of free ones is haphazard.

Cuba has succeeded even though it has the most genetically diverse epidemic outside Africa. Almost all American cases are of one strain, subtype B. Cuba has 21 different strains.

The genetic diversity is a legacy of its foreign aid. Since the 1960s, Cuba has sent abroad thousands of “internationalists” — soldiers, doctors, teachers and engineers. Stationed all over Africa, they brought back a wide array of strains. According to a study in 2002, 11 of Cuba’s 21 strains are unknown elsewhere, formed when two others mixed.

And Cuba’s success has come despite its being a sex tourism destination for Europeans and Canadians.

While the police enforce laws against overt streetwalking, bars and hotel lobbies in downtown Havana are filled with young women known as jineteras — slang for “jockeys” — who approach foreigners, asking if they would like to go for a drink, or perhaps dancing, with the unspoken assumption that it will lead to more. Even so, of the roughly 1,000 new infections diagnosed each year, 81 percent are among men and very few among young unmarried women.

“Most of those who sleep with tourists know to use condoms,” said Dr. Ribero Wong, an AIDS specialist here.

In a survey in 2009, 77 percent of all sex workers said they regularly used condoms.

There are male jineteras for gay tourists too, of course, “but we believe the main vector is within the people,” said Dr. Luis Estruch Rancaño, deputy minister for public health. “Mainly, the very promiscuous group in the homosexual community who have many partners and don’t take precautions.”

One example is Carlos Emilio García, 50, a registered nurse who lives and works at a former quarantine sanitarium outside Havana. He had negative H.I.V. tests at his job every six months from 1990 to 1996, but became infected in 1997.

He admits to having had many partners; as he put it, “No, I don’t know who my assassin is.”

Asked why a well-educated nurse would risk sex without a condom, he waved his hands in the air and replied, “You know — because we all do crazy things sometimes.”

The few Cuban women who are infected usually get the virus from partners who are secretly bisexual, experts said.

“Homo-bisexual transmission” is its own category in Cuba; socially, a man who occasionally has sex with other men is not considered gay if he is a “top” — the penetrative partner, explained Ramón Arango García, a fashion designer and educator at the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Center.

Heroin use, which drives epidemics in many countries, is virtually nonexistent in Cuba, officials insist.

And since 1986, only 38 babies have been born with the virus. In Cuba’s cradle-to-grave health care system, pregnant women get up to 12 free prenatal checkups, during which they are tested for H.I.V. at least twice.

Before antiretroviral drugs were available, H.I.V.-infected women were offered abortions or, if they chose to deliver, Caesareans and free infant formula to discourage breast-feeding and reduce the risk of transmission. Now they get the drugs free.

Universal Coverage

As broken as it is economically, Cuba still points proudly to one legacy of its 1959 revolution: Basic health care is universal and free. Cuba has 535,000 health care workers (“We’re all either doctors or baseball players,” one hospital microbiologist joked) and each citizen is officially registered with a family doctor nearby;

Click here to read the rest of the report on the New York Times.




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President Obama and the Anti Christian Endorsement of Same Sex Marriage

President Obama and the AntiChristian Endorsement of Same Sex Marriage

A biracial American who claims to be a "Christian" but wrote a letter to the Windy Times begging for the newspaper's support by vowing to support gay marriage and oppose any constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage would have been the worst nightmare of the Roman Catholics.

–posted 02/09/2008 at 08:01:27, from the book Barack Obama and the American Dream: A Socio-Political Graffiti on American Politics and the rest of the World..

Only those who are ignorant of the antecedents of President Barack Obama are shocked by his audacious and preposterous defense of same sex marriage. But he is only fulfilling the promise he had made to gays as way back as 2004 whilst soliciting for the votes of liberal gays in a letter he wrote to them published by the Windy City Times.

The following is from Barack Obama and the American Dream, the book I have delayed to publish for two years until now that I believe is quite timely for it to be released to remind those who have forgotten that Obama has never really changed and the Democrats made a mistake in preferring him to Hillary Clinton, because now Americans know that she would have made a better President than Barack Hussein Obama.

Any dummy can claim to be a "Christian." In fact, even the Anti-Christ will come in the guise of a "Christian." But truthfully, by their fruits, you shall know them.
No true Christian will vote against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
No true Christian will vote in support of same sex marriage.

There is no such thing as gay Christians or lesbian Christians. You cannot be gay and be a Christian, and you cannot be lesbian and be a Christian. Jesus Christ said you cannot be hot and cold and that He will spit you out if you are hypocritical. Hypocrites are not Christians.

What makes you a CHRISTIAN is not claiming to be a "CHRISTIAN," but keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ—not by lip service and eye service?
There is too much hypocrisy in the masquerade of Christianity.
The reign of hypocrisy is destroying the true Christian church in America and the rest of the world.

Senator Barack Hussein Obama cannot be a true Christian and write the letter he sent to the Windy City Times in 2004, promising to vote against DOMA and to vote in support of same sex marriage because he wants gays and lesbians to vote for him.

–posted 03/01/2008 at 09:23:10

As much as it would be rational to accept the sexual orientations of others whose beliefs and peculiarities are contrary to what is natural and normal, but should we just allow them to threaten the fundamental basis and premise of human civilization and let them destroy the institution of marriage which is the bedrock of the family and our society by their abnormality and bestiality called same sex marriage?

Is it not ironical that there are now more abnormal sexual misdemeanors among humans than among beasts in the jungle?
I mean how many lions have we seen mating with lions?
Do male dogs have sex with male dogs?
Do bulls have sex with bulls?
So, we can see that the beasts in the jungle even know how unnatural and abnormal it is to indulge in same sex intercourse and the absurdity of same sex marriage endorsed by President Obama and other humans of the lunatic fringe among us.
Who is President Obama trying to hoodwink?

Would First Lady Michelle Obama be proud to witness her daughters engaged in lesbianism?
And then walk tall to see them getting married to their fellow girls in same sex marriage?
Would Michelle accept Obama divorcing her to marry a man?
Or would Obama be glad to see his beloved wife leave him for a woman and then sleep peacefully while she is having oral sex with a fellow woman?
Of course she would not pray or wish for such a calamity to befall her family, except she has gone round the bend, but she would pretend to support her husband’s hypocritical desperation to win the donations and votes of the millions in the Lesbians Bisexual and Gays (LBG) Community in the United States in his desperate attempt to lure them away from his Republican opponent in the presidential election.
It is really the saddest day in America to witness how the first black American president has degraded the exalted office of the President of the United States! And this is the man they gave a Nobel Prize?
The world has really come to an end!

This is the worst nightmare in the history of African Americans since slavery; that the symbol of their American Dream will become the mockery of the black race since Adam and Eve, because homosexuality is an alien practice among Africans until the incursions of Arabs and Europeans in the imperial bastardization of African culture.
We don’t even tolerate infidelity in marriage to even imagine two men have sex. Such mad men would be ostracized and cast into the evil forest where they truly belonged or become outcasts and slaves banished from our shores lest they would corrupt others and pollute our noble society.
We cannot bear the abnormality, depravity and insanity of using the same anus you use for defecation to have sex and then live in our midst?
Such an abomination will never be accepted or tolerated by any rational and sane human, except in hell!

Do the gays and lesbians need a presidential validation for their abnormal sexual orientation?
Would Obama’s validation end their stigmatization in the society?
Which is more imperative, the endorsement of Obama or their peace of mind?

President Barack would do anything to win an election even if he had to sell his soul the devil?

If you have the fundamental human right to express your support for homosexuality and same sex marriage, then I have the same fundamental human right to express my absolute protest against it and to reject it!


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, aka Orikinla Osinachi.
PS: Barack Obama and the American Dream will be released before August and distributed by Amazon and other book stores worldwide.

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Third Point LLC Letter To Yahoo! Board on CEO Scott Thompson and Director Patti Hart

Third Point LLC Letter To Yahoo! Board Of Directors Regarding Discovery Of Discrepancies In Educational Records Of CEO Scott Thompson And Director Patti Hart.


Scott Thompson


Patti Hart

NEW YORK, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Third Point LLC, owners of 5.8% of Yahoo! shares, sent the following letter today to the Yahoo! (NASD: YHOO) Board of Directors:

May 3, 2012

Board of Directors
Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Dear Board of Directors:

According to the Yahoo! Form 10-K/A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2012, newly-hired Chief Executive Officer, Scott Thompson, "holds a Bachelor's degree in accounting and computer science" from Stonehill College. This assertion was repeated in the Company's draft proxy statement, also filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012, as well as on the Company's website (http://pressroom.yahoo.net/pr/ycorp/scott-thompson.aspx).

A rudimentary Google search reveals a Stonehill College alumni announcement stating that Mr. Thompson's degree is in accounting only. That announcement is consistent with other documents (including filings with the SEC) that reflect Mr. Thompson received a degree in accounting, but not computer science.

Upon recognizing this discrepancy, Third Point initially assumed that the documents we had reviewed were incorrect and the representations in Yahoo!'s public filings were accurate. However, we were then informed by Stonehill College that Mr. Thompson did indeed graduate with a degree in accounting only. Furthermore, Stonehill College informed us that it did not begin awarding computer science degrees until 1983 — four years after Mr. Thompson graduated. We inquired whether Mr. Thompson had taken a large number of computer science courses, perhaps allowing him to justify to himself that he had "earned" such a degree. Instead, we learned that during Mr. Thompson's tenure at Stonehill only one such course was even offered – Intro to Computer Science. Presumably, Mr. Thompson took that course.

If Mr. Thompson embellished his academic credentials we think that it 1) undermines his credibility as a technology expert and 2) reflects poorly on the character of the CEO who has been tasked with leading Yahoo! at this critical juncture. Now more than ever Yahoo! investors need a trustworthy CEO.

Shareholders must also question how the Board of Directors, specifically the Search Committee chaired by Ms. Patti Hart, could permit the Company to hire a CEO with this discrepancy in the public record. We assumed previously that the Committee would have conducted a thorough background check on Mr. Thompson – and even if not thorough, the most basic of such checks would address Mr. Thompson's education and degrees. Should our concerns about Mr. Thompson's record be accurate, that would call into serious question whether the Board failed to exercise appropriate diligence and oversight in one of its most fundamental tasks – identifying and hiring the Chief Executive Officer.

As we pondered how Mr. Thompson's academic credentials could seemingly be overlooked, we discovered another apparent discrepancy regarding the academic background of Ms. Hart, the Chair of the Search Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Specifically, Ms. Hart, we are told in various corporate filings (including the aforementioned Form 10-K/A), holds a "Bachelor's degree in marketing and economics" from Illinois State University. However, we understand that Ms. Hart's degree is in Business Administration. She received a degree in neither Marketing nor Economics, (although we understand that she may have taken a small number of courses – not enough for even a minor degree – in each).[1]

The Yahoo! Code of Ethics sets forth a standard of conduct that "applies to all Yahoo! employees (including officers… and directors…)". Page 13 of the Code relates to Accurate Business Communications, Records and Contracts, and states:

"Disclosure in reports and documents filed with or submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by Yahoo! must be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable…. Make sure information we disclose about our company is clear, truthful and accurate."

Third Point believes Mr. Thompson and Ms. Hart owe Yahoo!, its Board of Directors and its shareholders an explanation. We also call upon the Board to immediately commission an independent investigation to determine whether these individuals (i) made misrepresentations to the Yahoo! Board and the investing public or (ii) have violated the Company's Code of Ethics. Unless there are satisfactory explanations for these apparent discrepancies, the Board will need to decide whether these two individuals should remain at the helm of Yahoo!. The actions of the other members of the Search and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees who had a hand in the vetting process should also be reviewed and handled appropriately.

If misrepresentations were made, they would confirm yet again that Yahoo! is in dire need of a complete corporate governance overhaul. As we have asserted repeatedly and forcefully, as Yahoo!'s largest outside shareholder and a voice for our fellow investors, we believe the Yahoo! Board requires fresh, outside perspectives from individuals who have no connection to a failed regime and have the expertise to address the serious challenges facing the Company. It is also critical that these individuals possess the highest levels of integrity and exhibit diligence and due care in all their dealings. Third Point has nominated four such individuals to the Board, whose qualifications can be reviewed on our shareholder website: www.valueyahoo.com. Rest assured, our nominees will adhere to the highest standards of corporate governance.

If there is a good explanation for the apparent discrepancies regarding the academic records of Mr. Thompson and Ms. Hart, we are confident that it will be provided promptly. However, in the event that there is no good explanation, we expect the Board to take immediate action. Yahoo! shareholders should not have to wait until the (not yet scheduled) Annual Meeting for our nominees to begin the hard work of truly changing the Yahoo! Board.

Sincerely,

Daniel S. Loeb
Chief Executive Officer
Third Point LLC

About Third Point LLC:
Third Point LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in New York, managing $9.0 billion in assets. Founded in 1995, Third Point follows an event-driven approach to investing globally.

Third Point and the other Participants (defined below) have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying proxy card in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the election of Mr. Daniel S. Loeb, Mr. Harry J. Wilson, Mr. Michael J. Wolf and Mr. Jeffrey A. Zucker at the Company's 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting").

THE PARTICIPANTS STRONGLY ADVISE ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT, THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARDS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY Third Point, Daniel S. Loeb, Third Point Offshore Master Fund L.P., Third Point Ultra Master Fund L.P., Third Point Partners L.P., Third Point Partners Qualified L.P., Third Point Reinsurance Company Ltd., Lyxor/Third Point Fund Limited, dbX-Risk Arbitrage 11 Fund, Harry J. Wilson, Michael J. Wolf and Jeffrey A. Zucker (collectively, the "Participants"), FROM the SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY, FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH MATERIALS WILL, ALONG WITH OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS' PROXY SOLICITOR, MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC. AT ITS TOLL-FREE NUMBER (800) 322-2855 OR VIA EMAIL AT PROXY@MACKENZIEPARTNERS.COM.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ABOVE-NAMED PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION, INCLUDING THEIR DIRECT OR indirect interests in the COMPANY, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the preliminary proxy statement filed by Third Point and the other Participants with the SEC on March 21, 2012, which document is available at no charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. WHEN COMPLETED, the definitive proxy statement will be available to shareholders of the COMPANY at no charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting the participants' proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at its toll-free number (800) 322-2855 or via email at PROXY@MACKENZIEPARTNERS.COM.

[1] A press release from U.S. Sprint in 1991 stated that Ms. Hart (then Ms. Manuel), recently appointed as Vice President of Great Lakes Area Business Market Group, "received her B.S. in business administration from Illinois State University." However, a press release from Sprint Long Distance in 1998 stated that Ms. Hart "has a bachelor's degree in marketing and economics from Illinois State University". All references we found to Ms. Hart's educational background, dating after 1998, used the same language contained in the 1998 press release.

SOURCE Third Point LLC

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Journalist Eric Margolis Named in Captured Al-Qaida Documents

Eric Margolis with Robbie.

4 May 2012 22:11 Africa/Lagos

Journalist Eric Margolis named in captured Al-Qaida documents just released by the US military



TORONTO, May 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Veteran journalist Eric Margolis, named in captured al-Qaida documents just released by the US military, says he's not surprised. He was named as one of 20 western journalists who might receive key documents about 9/11.

"I interviewed the founder of Al-Qaida, Sheik Abdullah Azzam, way back during the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan." says Margolis.

"I have written weekly columns for Pakistan's leading newspapers for over 20 years, as well as in Qatar and Dubai newspapers - that are widely read across Pakistan and Afghanistan. Plus two books on the region. After 9/11, I was CNN's go-to commentator with Peter Bergen on bin Laden. I have a reputation across South Asia as a no-nonsense expert on the region who is fiercely independent and can be counted on for truthful reporting."

"Other leading journalists mentioned - including the New Yorker's Seymour Hersh, ABC's Brian Ross, and Britain's Robert Fisk - have a similar reputation. Since North American media refused to carry full text message from al-Qaida, it is not surprising that its media-savvy PR chiefs reached out to us."

"None of us were ever sympathetic to al-Qaida but very critical, but we also warned that US policy in the region of was counter-productive. I was one of the first journalists to warn the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq would be disasters. One wonder what messages about 9/11 al-Qaida (which today barely exists) wanted to get out."


About Eric Margolis:

Eric S. Margolis is an award-winning, internationally syndicated columnist. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune the Los Angeles Times, Times of London, the Gulf Times, the Khaleej Times, Nation - Pakistan, Hurriyet, - Turkey, Sun Times Malaysia and other news sites in Asia. He is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, Lew Rockwell and Big Eye. He appears as an expert on foreign affairs on CNN, BBC, France 2, France 24, Fox News, CTV and CBC.

His internet column www.ericmargolis.com reaches global readers on a daily basis.As a war correspondent Margolis has covered conflicts in Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Sinai, Afghanistan, Kashmir, India, Pakistan, El Salvador and Nicaragua. He was among the first journalists to ever interview Libya's Muammar Khadaffi and was among the first to be allowed access to KGB headquarters in Moscow.

A veteran of many conflicts in the Middle East, Margolis recently was featured in a special appearance on Britain's Sky News TV as "the man who got it right" in his predictions about the dangerous risks and entanglements the US would face in Iraq.

SOURCE Eric Margolis




CONTACT:

To book an interview contact:
Stephanie Blok
Director of Media Relations
for Eric Margolis
+ 416 254 6037
www.ericmargolis.com

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Michael Jackson on 1 Billion Pepsi Cans for Live for Now

Michael Jackson on 1 Billion Pepsi Cans for Live for Now

Michael Jackson's iconic image to be featured on one billion Pepsi Cans in more than 20 countries with China as the first market for the mega launch Pepsi announced yesterday as it unveiled the global Live for Now campaign to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Michael Jackson's Multi-platinum Album, BAD.



See more details in the following news release.

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pepsi today announced an exclusive global partnership with the Estate of Michael Jackson as part of its new "Live for Now" campaign, which Pepsi fans around the world will experience in a variety of ways including an engaging retail campaign featuring one billion special edition Michael Jackson Bad 25 Pepsi cans, iconic music, epic live events and opportunities for fans to access special edition merchandise.

The partnership coincides with the 25th anniversary of Jackson's multi-platinum BAD album and record-breaking tour, around which the Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Music have celebratory projects underway.

To celebrate Jackson's incredible contribution to pop music, Pepsi, Sony Music and the Estate of Michael Jackson have teamed up to share new mixes of legendary Michael Jackson music from the BAD album with fans around the world, proving that the King of Pop is not only the world's most iconic artist from the 20th century but also influencing music in the 21st century as well.

Brad Jakeman, president, Global Enjoyment Brands, and chief creative officer, PepsiCo Global Beverages Group, said, "Pepsi has always been at the forefront of pop culture, helping to shape the music landscape. This unique global partnership, around such a legendary music milestone, invites Pepsi fans from around the world to experience Michael Jackson's music in an engaging and very NOW kind of way – it's a model example of how Pepsi's 'Live for Now' campaign can manifest itself in a way that resonates the world over."

Pepsi will feature iconic silhouette imagery of the King of Pop on cans with the launch of collectible limited edition can designs. Pepsi will also run contests in markets around the world giving fans the opportunity to win merchandise including, a limited number of jackets inspired by the original staff BAD tour jackets and tickets to Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, the #1 touring show in North America.

"We are thrilled to bring Michael and Pepsi back together, as they were in 1988, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the BAD album and tour and to put Michael on one billion Pepsi cans – perhaps a Guinness record," commented John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson. Branca and McClain added, "We're excited to see it all come to life."

China and the United States will be among the first Pepsi markets to launch the exclusive Michael Jackson King of Pop activity in 2012, with approximately 20 additional markets in Asia, South America and Europe continuing the international roll-out throughout the rest of the year.

On May 5 in China, a 330ml limited edition can will be available at retail locations nationwide. In addition, from May 15 - June 14, 2012, fans will be encouraged to share photos of their valuable Jackson collections or original artwork celebrating him, for a chance to win tickets to Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, as part of China's "In Honor of King of Pop MJ" promotion.

Later in May, the U.S. will launch a nationwide retail campaign including a limited edition 16oz. King of Pop Pepsi can, as well as initiate a retail, music-themed promotion.

Frank Cooper, chief marketing officer, Global Consumer Engagement, PepsiCo added, "Michael Jackson will always be the King of Pop, and his music has always inspired fans and artists alike. But, this partnership goes beyond nostalgia and will engage with consumers all around the world with iconic imagery on more than one billion Pepsi cans, digital content and epic, live events, so that they can continue to connect with Jackson's music and honor his legendary impact on entertainment."

Michael Jackson has a long standing relationship with Pepsi spanning more than 25 years. The legendary King of Pop starred in his first Pepsi campaign alongside his brothers in 1983, as part of the Pepsi 'New Generation' campaign followed by Pepsi's sponsorship of the epic BAD Tour and the iconic "Chase" commercials which served as the impetus for the current reunion. Pepsi also featured Jackson in the 'Music Icons' commercial that premiered during The X Factor in 2011.

Pepsi's new "Live for Now" campaign is a culmination of extensive global research demonstrating Pepsi fans' desire to capture the excitement of now and live each moment to the fullest. First launched in the U.S. last month, "Live for Now" will come to life through a breadth of global, pop-culture platforms, events and unique partnerships and will begin to roll out globally throughout 2012.



About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

Follow PepsiCo:

• Twitter (@PepsiCo)
• Facebook
• PepsiCo Blogs
• PepsiCo Press Releases
• PepsiCo Multimedia
• PepsiCo Videos

SOURCE PepsiCo

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Black Hole Caught Red-handed In A Stellar Homicide

ABOUT THIS IMAGE:

This computer-simulated image shows gas from a tidally shredded star falling into a black hole. Some of the gas also is being ejected at high speeds into space. Astronomers observed a flare in ultraviolet and optical light from the gas falling into the black hole and glowing helium from the stars's helium-rich gas expelled from the system.

To see the computer simulation movie, visit: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2012/18/video/

Image Type: Scientific Visualization

Credit: NASA, S. Gezari (The Johns Hopkins University), and J. Guillochon (University of California, Santa Cruz)

2 May 2012 18:14 Africa/Lagos

Black Hole Caught Red-handed In A Stellar Homicide



WASHINGTON, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Astronomers have gathered the most direct evidence yet of a supermassive black hole shredding a star that wandered too close. NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer, a space-based observatory, and the Pan-STARRS1 telescope on the summit of Haleakala in Hawaii, were among the first to help identify the stellar remains.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

Supermassive black holes, weighing millions to billions times more than the sun, lurk in the centers of most galaxies. These hefty monsters lay quietly until an unsuspecting victim, such as a star, wanders close enough to get ripped apart by their powerful gravitational clutches.

Astronomers have spotted these stellar homicides before, but this is the first time they identified the victim. Using several ground- and space-based telescopes, a team of astronomers led by Suvi Gezari of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore identified the victim as a star rich in helium gas. The star resides in a galaxy 2.7 billion light-years away. The team's results will appear in today's online edition of the journal Nature.

"When the star is ripped apart by the gravitational forces of the black hole, some part of the star's remains falls into the black hole while the rest is ejected at high speeds," Gezari said. "We are seeing the glow from the stellar gas falling into the black hole over time. We're also witnessing the spectral signature of the ejected gas, which we find to be mostly helium. It is like we are gathering evidence from a crime scene. Because there is very little hydrogen and mostly helium in the gas, we detect from the carnage that the slaughtered star had to have been the helium-rich core of a stripped star."

This observation yields insights about the harsh environment around black holes and the types of stars swirling around them. It is not the first time the unlucky star had a brush with the behemoth black hole.

The team believes the star's hydrogen-filled envelope surrounding the core was lifted off a long time ago by the same black hole. The star may have been near the end of its life. After consuming most of its hydrogen fuel, it had probably ballooned in size, becoming a red giant. Astronomers think the bloated star was looping around the black hole in a highly elliptical orbit, similar to a comet's elongated orbit around the sun. On one of its close approaches, the star was stripped of its puffed-up atmosphere by the black hole's powerful gravity. The stellar remains continued its journey around the center, until it ventured even closer to the black hole to face its ultimate demise.

Astronomers predict stripped stars circle the central black hole of our Milky Way galaxy. These close encounters are rare, occurring roughly every 100,000 years. To find this event, Gezari's team monitored hundreds of thousands of galaxies in ultraviolet light with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer, and in visible light with Pan-STARRS1. Pan-STARRS, short for Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, scans the entire night sky for all kinds of transient phenomena, including supernovae.

The team was looking for a bright flare in ultraviolet light from the nucleus of a galaxy with a previously dormant black hole. Both telescopes spotted one in June 2010. Astronomers continued to monitor the flare as it reached peak brightness a month later and slowly faded during the next 12 months. The brightening event was similar to the explosive energy unleashed by a supernova, but the rise to the peak was much slower, taking nearly one and a half months.

"The longer the event lasted, the more excited we got, because we realized this is either a very unusual supernova or an entirely different type of event, such as a star being ripped apart by a black hole," said team member Armin Rest of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

By measuring the increase in brightness, the astronomers calculated the black hole's mass to be several million suns, which is comparable to the size of our Milky Way's black hole.

Spectroscopic observations with the Multiple Meter Telescope Observatory located on Mount Hopkins in Arizona showed the black hole was swallowing lots of helium. Spectroscopy divides light into its rainbow colors, which yields an object's characteristics, such as its temperature and gaseous makeup.

To completely rule out the possibility of an active nucleus flaring up in the galaxy, the team used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to study the hot gas. Chandra showed that the characteristics of the gas didn't match those from an active galactic nucleus.

For images, video and more information about this study, visit:
http://hubblesite.org/news/2012/18

For graphics and information about the Galaxy Evolution Explorer, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/galex
http://www.galex.caltech.edu


SOURCE NASA
CONTACT: J.D. Harrington, Headquarters, Washington, +1-202-358-0321, j.d.harrington@nasa.gov

Web Site: http://www.nasa.gov

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Americans Want Sleep More Than Sex

Americans Crave Sleep More Than Sex, Says Better Sleep Council Survey



ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A national survey by the Better Sleep Council (BSC) found that 61 percent of Americans and a whopping 79 percent of women would rather get a good night's sleep than have sex. The survey also found that nearly half of Americans fall asleep somewhere other than their bed at least once a week, and about 11 percent fall asleep somewhere other than their bed every day.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/CL98559)

So where are people nodding off? Turns out, some very peculiar and dangerous places.



"We were stunned by some of the survey responses," said Karin Mahoney, director of communications for the BSC. "One man fell asleep on a rooftop. Another man fell asleep while interviewing a job candidate. There was a teacher who fell asleep at the podium in front of her class. Clearly, people are sleeping just about everywhere except where they should be – in their own beds. And they're likely not realizing the critical role the right mattress plays in achieving the quality of life that only good, healthful sleep can bring."

But there's hope. Seventy-seven percent of people surveyed say they'd give up something to get a better night's sleep. Tops on the list were watching TV (31 percent), time spent on computers and social media (23 percent), exercise and going to church (both 16 percent).

"The health problems associated with not getting enough sleep are well documented," said Mahoney. "People who don't get enough sleep can suffer from poor performance at work or school to depression, diabetes, heart disease and other ailments."



To promote a healthier lifestyle, the BSC – in conjunction with its annual "May Is Better Sleep Month" promotion – has launched Stop Sleeping Around, a campaign that encourages people to spend more time on their mattresses, so they don't fall asleep in dangerous or embarrassing places. The campaign also serves to emphasize the importance of mattress quality and selection when looking to improve sleep and, in turn, overall health and well being.



The campaign kicks off on May 1st, with National Eight Hours in Bed Night, when the BSC is encouraging people to get a full night's rest in their own. The BSC has set up a Facebook site and Twitter handle (@StopSleepinArnd, #stopsleepingaround) where people can go to share stories and videos of their most embarrassing moments "sleeping around," as well as thoughts on how much better they feel when achieving a full night of healthful sleep.

"Our campaign is edged in humor, but our message is serious. People who consistently cheat themselves of a good night's rest are risking their health," said Mahoney. "By encouraging people to take a critical look at their sleep habits and their sleep environment, we're hoping to play a role in improving their overall health and wellness."

To learn more about the BSC's campaign and to get more tips on how to achieve a full night of high-quality rest in a healthy sleep environment, visit BetterSleep.org and facebook.com/stopsleepingaround.


About the BSC
The Better Sleep Council is the consumer education arm of the International Sleep Products Association, the trade association for the mattress industry. With a quarter of a century invested in improving America's quality of sleep, the BSC educates consumers on the critical link between sleep and health, as well as the role of the sleep environment, primarily through an informative consumer website www.bettersleep.org, partner support and proactive consumer media outreach.


SOURCE Better Sleep Council

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Top 30 Outstanding Women in Finance in America

1. Julie L. Scammahorn
SVP & General Auditor
American Express
Since joining the credit card company in 2008, Scammahorn has built a best-in-class internal audit group and assembled dedicated risk, consumer compliance, Basel II and technology audit teams. She has also extended the audit committee’s focus to include both audit and risk.

2. Jann Brown
Finance Director & Managing Director
Cairn Energy
As head of finance at the U.K.-based oil and gas production company, Brown played a key role in managing its interests in India. Her appointment last year as managing director recognized her broader responsibilities, such as HR, environmental and social responsibility

3. Cheryl Scully
Treasurer & VP, Investor Relations
AutoNation
At AutoNation, the largest car retailer in the U.S., with franchises in 15 states, Scully recently negotiated the refinancing of the company’s $1.7 billion credit facility. She also led efforts that won the company an upgrade to an investment-grade rating from Standard & Poor’s.

4. Brooks McCorcle
SVP, Investor Relations
AT&T
Last year, McCorcle enhanced AT&T’s targeting program for both U.S. and international investors, a process that involved more than 1,300 meetings globally. And through her work with investors, she insured the company’s transition to a new CFO, John Stephens, went smoothly.

5.
Zarin Patel
CFO
BBC
Patel, finance chief for the U.K. broadcasting company since 2004, played a key role in its negotiations with the U.K. government last year over funding the broadcaster receives from license fees. She also led the reform of the BBC’s pension strategy and oversees its effort to cut costs by 20% by 2017.

6. Sally Curley
SVP, Investor Relations
Cardinal Health
Curley was involved in Cardinal’s $4 billion spinoff of its CareFusion medical products business in 2009. She also gathered data from investors that contributed to its capital deployment strategy after the spinoff, a plan that included a significant dividend increase.

7. Tracey Brazier
Cash & Treasury Services Manager, EMEA
Cargill
In her career at Cargill, Brazier has worked as a senior cash management executive on many company acquisitions and implementations of internal systems. Most recently, she led a project to implement SWIFT across four of the company’s banks in six countries.

8. Karen Roebuck
Controller
Bunge Limited
Roebuck has worked to build common processes and culture through Bunge’s global accounting and control organizations. She led a project to reduce finance transaction costs and use the savings for more analysis, and continues to focus on bolstering efficiency and data quality.

9. Adena Friedman
CFO & Managing Director
Carlyle Group
As finance chief for the private equity firm, Friedman has refinanced its $500 million term loan and increased the capacity of its revolver from $150 million to $750 million. And then, of course, there’s the IPO Carlyle is preparing to do this year.

10. Yvonne McGill
CFO, Global Public & Large Enterprise Group, & VP
Dell
McGill led the consolidation of Dell’s public and large enterprise segments, which together generated 57% of its revenue last year, and now serves as CFO of the combined unit. She was also responsible for the financial aspects of Dell’s go-to-market and sales transformation.

11. Robin Washington
CFO & SVP
Gilead Sciences
As finance chief since 2008, Washington has presided over a period of significant revenue growth for the biotech company. She played a key role in its strategic use of cash, as well as in the financing for Gilead’s recently announced purchase of Pharmasset.

12. Niharika Taskar Ramdev
CFO, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain
General Motors
As CFO of GM’s purchasing group, Ramdev aims to optimize spending on its largest cost—materials and logistics. Earlier, as assistant treasurer from 2008 to 2011, she was involved in establishing GM’s $5 billion secured revolver and played a key role in the company’s restructuring and $23 billion IPO.

13. Eliane Okamura
Treasurer, South American Operations
Ford Motor
Okamura oversees the automaker’s treasury operations in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. Earlier, as treasurer for Ford Brazil, she led an effort to strengthen its balance sheet and increased funding for Ford Credit, a critical part of coping with the credit crisis.

14.
Sarah-Jane Chilver-Stainer
SVP & Group Treasurer
GlaxoSmithKline
Chilver-Stainer runs a centralized treasury with responsibility for operations in more than 100 countries for the London pharmaceutical giant, overseeing a $23 billion debt portfolio and $9.5 billion in investments. She also set up an in-house bank to facilitate internal cash flows.

15. Laura Thompson
VP of Finance, North American Tire
Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Thompson directs finance for the tire company’s biggest business unit, with annual sales of more than $8 billion. Thompson, who previously served as vice president of business development, is also the executive in charge of developing Goodyear’s new headquarters in Akron, Ohio.

16. Nanette DeTurk
CFO, CAO, Treasurer & EVP
Highmark
As CFO since 2006 for Highmark, a nonprofit health insurer in Pennsylvania, DeTurk is working to integrate the company’s portfolio and liquidity needs with long-term corporate strategy. She also led recent changes to Highmark’s corporate risk management process.

17. Anne Madden
VP, Corporate Development & Global Head of M&A
Honeywell International
Under Madden’s leadership, Honeywell has completed more than 70 acquisitions that it credits with adding $8 billion in incremental revenues over the last decade. Madden has also led divestitures that helped the company focus on its core businesses and revamped M&A processes.

18. Diane Ford
Controller & VP
Integrys Energy Group
M&A activity has been a focus for Ford. When Integrys was formed in 2007 by the merger of Wisconsin Public Service and People’s Energy, Ford, as controller of Wisconsin Public Service, worked to integrate the two organizations’ finance and accounting teams.

19.
Ellen Johnson
Treasurer & SVP
Interpublic Group
Johnson led the advertising and marketing conglomerate’s efforts to strengthen its balance sheet, a move that resulted in its attaining investment-grade ratings recently for the first time since 2005. She negotiated the private sale of about half of the company’s stake in Facebook and developed a framework for returning value to shareholders.

20. Kimberly Dang
CFO & VP
Kinder Morgan
Dang, CFO for the pipeline company since 2005, is currently working on Kinder Morgan’s acquisition of El Paso Corp., the biggest M&A deal of 2011. The acquisition will create the fourth-largest energy company in North America. Dang also played a key role in the company’s IPO last year, which raised $3.3 billion.

21. Karen Matusinec
Treasurer & SVP
McDonald’s
Matusinec served as vice president of the fast-food retailer’s tax department before she was named treasurer last year. She now oversees the areas of tax and insurance in addition to treasury. Matusinec focuses on ensuring access to capital as McDonald’s and its operators make investments to upgrade the restaurants.

22. Lisa Martin
SVP, Global Procurement & Operations Finance
Pfizer
Martin oversees the development of sourcing strategies to make the most of the pharmaceutical company’s $20 billion in spending. Her oversight also includes real estate, facilities management, and corporate services such as fleet and the global travel program.

23. Annemarie Moore
Group Treasurer
Plan International
In her five years with the U.K.-based charity that aims to alleviate child poverty around the world, Moore led the restructuring of its banking arrangements in Africa and Asia and made changes in its foreign exchange practices that resulted in cost savings of about 1.5% of turnover.

24. Jo-Ann Longworth
CFO & SVP
Resolute Forest Products
Longworth signed on as finance chief at Montreal-based Resolute in the wake of its restructuring and emergence from bankruptcy. She has focused on restructuring its finance operations, extending and amending its $600 million credit facility, and making a tender offer for pulp manufacturer Fibrek.

25. Maureen O’Connell
CFO, CAO & EVP
Scholastic Corp.
Since signing on at the publishing company in 2007, O’Connell has made improvements in budgeting, forecasting and capital allocation processes. She also centralized supply chain, purchasing and manufacturing operations, reduced inventory and improved turn times at the company’s distribution centers.

26.
Linda G. Sullivan
CFO & SVP
Southern California Edison
Sullivan, the utility’s first female CFO in its 125-year history, heads a process to optimize its cost structure to better balance reliable power delivery and the rates paid by customers. She recently led a company-wide implementation of SAP, replacing more than 200 financial systems.

27. Sherry Smith
CFO & EVP
SUPERVALU
Since becoming CFO of the grocery chain in 2010, Smith has improved financial reporting, increased transparency and bolstered the company’s competitive position by cutting expenses, including a reduction of $175 million in fiscal 2011 and another reduction of $90 million in the first two quarters of fiscal 2012.

28. Gina Wilson
CFO & EVP
TIAA-CREF
Since joining the retirement provider for academics in 2010, Wilson has worked to streamline the company’s financial systems, develop activity-based costing methods and support investment in new products. She also heads TIAA-CREF’s Asset Liability Committee and guided its work through the European debt crisis.

29. Cathy Smith
CFO and SVP, Strategy
Walmart International
Smith heads finance and strategy for Walmart’s fastest-growing segment, encompassing more than 5,000 stores in 27 countries outside the U.S. Since her appointment in 2010, she has completed the Massmart acquisition in South Africa as well as some smaller acquisitions and implemented SAP in four countries.

30. Katherine Gill-Charest
Controller & SVP
Viacom
After Viacom was spun off from CBS Corp. in 2006, Gill-Charest worked to strengthen the finance group. She’s currently establishing centers of excellence for the international payroll and statutory reporting areas, part of the media company’s finance transformation efforts.

Click here for the full report.

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