Inga Beale, the chief executive of the Lloyd's of London insurance market, became the first woman to rank first on a power list of the world's top 100 LGBT business executives on Monday.
Beale is also the first openly bisexual person to top the list, which was compiled by the U.K.-based OUTstanding business network that campaigns for LGBT rights in the workplace.
"I am proud of the commitment of Lloyd's and the London insurance market to celebrate diversity and ensure we are an attractive, globally relevant and inclusive sector," Beale said.
Beale is one of four bisexual business leaders on the list and she replaces last year's winner Christopher Bailey, chief executive of Burberry, who fell to eighth place.
Martine Rothblatt, the chief executive of U.S. biotechnology company United Therapeutics, placed in fourth, the highest-ever ranking for a transexual executive on the list.
In second and third, respectively, on the power list are Alan Joyce, the chief executive of Australian airline Qantas, and Antonio Simoes, the U.K. chief executive for HSBC Bank.
Suki Sandhu, the chief executive and founder of OUTstanding, told London's Evening Standard newspaper that the number of new entries into the top 100 should inspire more top executives to reveal their sexuality.
"This year we have 42 brand new additions to the top 100 alone," Sandhu said. "I hope it shows people are both more comfortable about being their true selves at work, and also that they see the value of 'going public' in terms of inspiring the next generation of leaders."
Sandhu singled out the retail industry and professional services industry for enhancing diversity and allowing it to blossom at companies within the sectors.
"Other [sectors] that have a long way to go are property and engineering where there is still a dominant white, male, heterosexual culture."
The Top 10
1. Inga Beale - Lloyd's of London
2. Alan Joyce - Qantas
3. Antonio Simoes - HSBC
4. Martine Rothblatt - United Therapeutics
5. Claudia Brind-Woody - IBM
6. Paul Reed - BP
7. Beth Brooke-Marciniak - EY
8. Christopher Bailey - Burberry
9. Anthony Watson - Uphold
10. Sander van 't Noordende - Accenture
Correction: This article originally incorrectly stated that Martine Rothblatt was the first-ever transexual executive to be ranked on the list. She is the highest-ranking transexual executive to receive a place on the list.
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