Over the last several years, we’ve faced COVID-19, Inflation, rising interest rates and more, but leaders across Greater Cincinnati—in government, at companies and at nonprofits—have held the course. In many ways, the Tristate is in a better position than it was in the past. Cincy’s 20th annual Power 100 list recognizes those leaders who have kept us afloat and will help steer the region through a new economic cycle.
1. Aftab Pureval 
Mayor of Cincinnati
Now in his third year as Cincinnati’s mayor, Pureval (called “Aftab or “Mayor Aftab” by most) has taken big swings and succeeded: He proposed and passed the controversial sale of the city-owned rail line, generating $1.6 billion to be put in trust to maintain infrastructure; he led the successful effort to overhaul Cincinnati’s zoning code, a reform designed to spur growth; and he appointed a blue-chip commission that analyzed the city’s finances and made bold recommendations for growth. With a City Council composed of nine fellow Democrats, he has a working coalition that has been able to get things done.
2. Carl Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner
Co-CEOS of American Financial Group
They share power as co-CEOs of one of Cincinnati’s blue-chip companies, the $8 billion, 8,500-employee insurance giant American Financial Group. Beyond that, Carl Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner carry on the example of philanthropy and civic involvement set by their parents, Carl Lindner Jr. and his wife, Edyth. The Lindner family has made major gifts to the University of Cincinnati, its business school and medical center, and both have been instrumental in founding Christian schools, not-for-profit organizations such as the Lindner Center of HOPE, and, in the case of Carl III, the FC Cincinnati soccer club, whose presence is changing the face of Cincinnati’s West End.
3. John Barrett
Chairman, president and chief executive officer of Western & Southern Financial Group
Chairman, president and chief executive officer of Western & Southern Financial Group, a $6 billion, Fortune 500 company, Barrett remains highly involved in the economic, civic, and philanthropic life of the Greater Cincinnati region, and has served on numerous corporate and not-for-profit boards of directors. His company controls significant real estate, especially in the southeast corner of downtown around the Western & Southern campus, and was influential in the renovation of Lytle Park, which reopened earlier this year. Barrett was also involved in persuading the new owner of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, now called the Cincinnati Open, to keep the 125-year-old tournament in Greater Cincinnati.
4. Jon Moeller
Procter & Gamble chairman, president and CEO
Procter & Gamble remains Greater Cincinnati’s most influential business—an $80 billion, 100,000-employee enterprise that does business around the world—and Moeller, a 35-year veteran, is its chairman, president and CEO. At the request of Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, he chaired the Cincinnati Futures Commission, a blue-chip task force that in March of this year delivered a comprehensive report on the city’s budget, and made bold recommendations to encourage growth that will be influential in the coming months and years on the work of elected leaders in the city, county and beyond.
5. Rodney McMullen
CEO of Kroger
Kroger is Greater Cincinnati’s largest private employer, with 20,000 local workers. Nationally, among its 2,750 supermarkets, Kroger employs nearly half a million people, many of them unionized, and last year posted revenue of $150 billion. McMullen, who worked his way up from stocking shelves to chief executive in 2014, has embarked on what would be the company’s biggest deal ever: a proposed acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Inc., the nation’s fourth-largest supermarket chain. How the Federal Trade Commission’s challenge of the merger is resolved could influence grocery shopping and jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans.
6. Bill Butler
Corporex Cos. CEO, chairman & founder
Nearly 60 years ago, Butler started a business that grew into a diversified real estate company responsible for more than $8 billion in development throughout 27 states. But it’s his impact in Northern Kentucky, where he has changed the landscape of the south side of the Ohio River, as well as other key commercial corridors, where his influence has been mostly felt. The latest transformative project is Ovation, a $1 billion residential, office, hospitality, and entertainment development on 25 acres on the Newport riverfront. The long-awaited project has reached several milestones, including residents moving in this summer.
7. Mike Brown
Cincinnati Bengals president & principal owner
Although approaching 90, Brown is still involved in the management of the team he owns, a team whose fortunes have risen in the last few years and, along with that, the spirits of the Bengal Nation. With the signing of a long-term contract with superstar quarterback Joe Burrow, the next major deal is renegotiating the lease of the county-owned football stadium, which expires in 2026. Brown’s hand, and that of his daughter, Bengals Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn, would be strengthened with a playoff appearance, and possibly more, in the upcoming season.
8. Bob Castellini
Cincinnati Reds principal owner, president & CEO; Castellini Co. chairman
As principal owner and CEO of the Cincinnati Reds for the last 18 years, Castellini continues to play a major role in the development of Cincinnati’s riverfront. His connections run deep throughout Cincinnati corporations and institutions, having served on the boards of major health care organizations, Xavier University, Cincinnati Center City Development Co. (3CDC), the powerful Cincinnati Business Committee and more. His son, Phil, is the Reds’ president and CEO.
9. Tom Williams
North American Properties Inc. president & CEO; Cincinnati Reds principal owner/ vice chairman
One of the most well-connected and civically active business people in Cincinnati, Williams has a hand in many of the region’s powerful organizations, including 3CDC, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and the Cincinnati Business Committee. He’s president and CEO of North American Properties, a real estate company that bought and renovated a key riverfront retail property, Newport on the Levee. He’s also vice chairman and part owner of the Reds and of a brand closely linked with Cincinnati, Skyline Chili.
10. Candace McGraw
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport CEO; Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber chair
Although she plans to retire next year after 13 years as CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, McGraw led CVG to be a national leader in e-commerce logistics, landing Amazon’s North American air hub, which is expected to continue growing. In addition to her leadership in the aviation industry, McGraw over the next year is serving as the chair of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce board.
