Businesswomen's verve (Events)
An
award bestowed by Veuve Clicquot for women in business is bound to have
a special resonance. For it was the 27-year-old Nicole Ponsardin who
inherited the business reins from her husband Francois Clicquot to
establish one of the world's best known champagne houses. Veuve, or
Widow, Clicquot's legacy was celebrated last week at the Saatchi
Gallery which hosted the 36th Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award. Abigail Parkin (5 May'09)
This year's honour went to Gail Rebuck CBE and the silver bottle trophy was presented by Sir Trevor McDonald OBE. Rebuck is chair and CEO of the Random House Group, one of the UK's biggest publishers with subsidiairies in Australia, New Zealand and India. The publisher numbers the likes of Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, Ruth Rendell and Dan Brown among its roster of authors.
Gail Rebuck is a non-executive director of BSkyB and director of Skillset (Sector Skills Council for Creative Media) and sits on the Council of the Royal College of Art.
She also promotes literacy as a trustee for the National Literacy Trust and chairs the Quick Reads adult literacy initiative.
"When
I consider the remarkable achievements of the former winners and my
fellow nominees, it is a real privilege and an honour to win this
award," said Rebuck. "I am delighted to follow in the footsteps of such
an esteemed list of highly talented business people who are an
inspiration to women everywhere."
(Above) Graham Boyes MD Moët Hennessy and Gail Rebuck
The choice of the Saatchi Gallery as host venue reinforced Veuve Clicquot's role as a key corporate patron since the gallery's opening and it reaffirmed the brand's association with the world of art and design. The event is now in its 36th year and is also held in 17 other countries.
(Below 2008 winner Carolyn McCall and Stephen Quinn)
“We
are delighted that the judges have selected a winner who reflects the
unique business character of Madame Clicquot, one of the first great
business women," said Sally Warmington, marketing director of Veuve Clicquot.
"Similar to Madame Clicquot, Gail Rebuck has successfully led the
company through a vast range of development and growth and puts her
success down to a forward thinking attitude, positively embracing
innovation in order to anticipate the future."
Finalists
Cath Kidston Creative Director & Founder, Cath Kidston Ltd (Design)
Harriet Green Chief Executive Officer, Premier Farnell plc (Technology)
Kate Bleasdale Vice Chairman, Healthcare Locums plc (Healthcare recruitment)
Ruby McGregor-Smith Chief Executive, MITIE Group plc (Outsourcer)
Key guests
Stephen & Kimberly Quinn Jenni Falconer (left) Daisy De Villenvue Nancy Dell’Olio Kay Burley
Linda
Barker Kanya
King Anton
Mosimann Failsal
Islam Amber
Nuttall Constance Briscoe
Melissa
Del Bono Mary Ann Sieghart
Marissa
Montgomery Alice Beer
Baroness Virginia Bottomley
Lord and Lady Powell of Bayswater John and Anoushka Ayton Angela Harnett MBE
Past winners
2007 Rosaleen Blair CEO, Alexander Mann Solutions
2006 Vivienne Cox, Executive VP & CEO, BP Gas
2005 Chey Garland CBE Founder & CEO, Garland's Call Centres
2004 Linda Bennett Founder & MD, LK Bennett
2003 Dawn Gibbins MBE Chairman, Flowcrete Group plc Flooring manufacturers
2002 Barbara Cassani, Founder & CEO, Go Fly UK
2001 Dianne Thompson CBE, CEO, Camelot Group plc
2000 Nikki Beckett Founder & CEO, NSB Retail Systems plc