Thomas Cook Group plc, is delighted to announce that Harriet Green, OBE and CEO of Thomas Cook Group plc is this year’s winner of the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award. Harriet was appointed as CEO in July 2012, and today, the share price has risen around 950%, following the launch of a new strategy just over a year ago, focussed on digital leadership, new product innovation and placing customers at the very heart of the business. In the last year, the business has also successfully refinanced and unified its many brands under the new ‘Sunny Heart’ brand, as the Group’s 27,000 employees work as one global team across 80 countries to deliver the Transformation.
“Madame Clicquot transformed her family business through belief, innovation, and a ‘can do’ attitude, which are as relevant today as they were then, and I’m honoured to accept the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award on behalf of everyone at Thomas Cook as we continue to transform our business, just like Madame Clicquot did, through innovation, belief and our ‘can do’ attitude,” said Harriet Green, CEO of Thomas Cook Group plc. “Madame Clicquot was truly one of the first real businesswomen of our age, and I’ve long admired her spirit, courage, and determination. She and the original Mr Thomas Cook were of the same generation, and together they created two amazingly powerful brands, whose heritage and promise clearly live on today – over 170 years later.”
Since her appointment, Harriet has tackled the issue of diversity in senior positions at Thomas Cook and her Executive Committee now includes 4 women and 6 different nationalities. Overall she kept one third of the original leadership team, promoted one third from within the business and brought in a third from outside to offer the skill and expertise required. Employee engagement is of huge importance and as a passionate communicator, she actively encourages staff to feedback their ideas and innovations to improve and strengthen the business, as every part of the business is touched and transformed, creating one strong team across the Group, to work together to benefit all of the Group’s key stakeholders.