A Jewish businesswoman has been named as the second most powerful woman in the world.

Irene Rosenfeld appears just behind the First Lady Michelle Obama on Forbes 2010 list of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

Ms Rosenfeld, the chief executive of Kraft Food, is a controversial figure in the UK following her company’s audacious £10.2bn bid for confectionary giant Cadbury Cadbury.

The 57-year-old, who is married with two children, isa psychology graduate of Cornell University, a Master of Business Administration and holds a PhD in marketing and statistics.

Elana Kagan, the newly appointed Supreme Court justice, also appeared on the list at number 25.

Ms Kagan, 50, is the ninth Jewish judge to sit on the Supreme Court. Her fellow Jewish appointee, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was rated as the 31st most powerful woman.

The list also included Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker, American comedian Chelsea Handler, who has a Jewish father, and personal finance expert Suze Orman.

Fashion designer Donna Karan just made the list, placed at number 96.

Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating Officer for Facebook, came in at number 66 while Queen Rania of Jordan was at number 76.