Fortune magazine names Michelle Gass of Kohl's one of the country's top business leaders

Fortune magazine has named Kohl's Corp. CEO Michelle Gass as one of its top five business people of the year.

The magazine ranked Gass No. 4 among 20 honorees who were chosen, Fortune said, based on their companies' financial performance, stock performance and total shareholder returns over three years, as well as intangibles such as "business influence, strategic vision, and the impact of their leadership."

Gass, who became Kohl's CEO last May after nearly five years with the company, was cited by Fortune for helping forge a strategy that has led to the Menomonee Falls-based company being "recognized as one of retail’s savviest survivors." 

Fortune's choice for Businessperson of the Year was Tricia Griffith, CEO of insurer Progressive Corp.