Patricia Russo

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Patricia Russo (born in 1953, in Trenton, New Jersey) is the current chief executive officer of Alcatel-Lucent, one of the world's largest manufacturing firms. Lucent was a spin-off from AT&T of its Systems and Technology units (AT&T Technologies, Inc., the former Western Electric), and the manufacturing and research and development operations, including Bell Laboratories. On April 2, 2006 it was announced that Russo would assume the CEO role of a new combined company made up of the French communications company Alcatel and Lucent. This merger has become effective on December 1st 2006. Pat Russo is now the CEO of the combined company called Alcatel-Lucent.

The combined company is now one of the largest in the world in terms of revenues (over $25 billion) run by a woman.

Forbes magazine rated Russo as the thirteenth most powerful woman in the world in 2005. Russo is a graduate of Georgetown University and serves on its Board of Trustees.

She is married and has two stepchildren.

[edit] Quotes

"Early in my career there were some people who didn't believe a woman belonged in sales, but I worked hard on the accounts I was given and made sure I met the customers' needs and focused on producing results for the company. What I found is that results matter—it's hard to argue with them. People who produce results rise to the top."