Whitbread CEO Alison Brittain named Veuve Clicquot's Businesswoman of the Year

Recognised: (from left) Veuve Clicquot president Jean-Marc Gallot, Jude Kelly, Alison Brittain, Alice Bentinck and Moet Hennessy UK managing director Jo Thornton
Dave Benett
Eleanor Rose10 May 2017

Alison Brittain, chief executive of hospitality giant Whitbread, has been named Veuve Clicquot’s businesswoman of the year.

Judges said Brittain was a role model for women striving to reach the top of large organisations and working in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

She has also advocated strongly for more women in executive level positions, and supported skills and career development at Whitbread, said the judges.

Brittain started out as a graduate trainee at Barclays before working her way to become one of just seven women CEOs of FTSE 100 companies.

Alison Brittain: winner of the Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year award
Dave Benett

She moved from head of retail at Lloyds Banking Group to Whitbread, owner of seven brands including Costa Coffee and Premier Inn, in September 2015.

Brittain, who said she was “humbled” to win, follows in the footsteps of some of the UK’s most celebrated female business leaders, including Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, and Marjorie Scardino, the first female CEO of a FTSE 100 business.

Alice Bentinck: winner of the New Generation Award
Dave Benett

Whitbread employs about 50,000 people and reported sales of £3.1 billion in the year to March.

Also honoured in Veuve Clicquot’s annual business award were the Southbank Centre’s artistic director Jude Kelly, who was named winner of the firm’s first Social Purpose Award, and entrepreneur Alice Bentinck, who won the New Generation Award.

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