Rosaleen Blair, the Chief Executive of Alexander Mann Solutions has been announced as The Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year for 2007.
The award will be presented at a gala event at the London Stock Exchange on the evening of Tuesday 17th April.
Rosaleen Blair, has transformed the way in which major companies manage recruitment, and in the process is building a £300 million global business employing 800 + people across three continents.
She devised a new approach to recruiting staff - Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) - and convinced her employer of the merits of setting up a joint venture, Alexander Mann Solutions (AMS), to bring the concept to market. In order to streamline the Group, a divestment programme of all other businesses has been underway over recent years, which now allows a total focus on its RPO proposition.
Her ability to lead by example has also won plaudits. AMS has secured Best Companies Accreditation "Star Status" for the past 2 years with 88 percent of employees being proud to work at the company and 91 percent saying they were personally inspired by the CEO.
Rosaleen, aged 41, is Dublin born and worked in Ireland until moving to the UK in 1996.
AMS is London-based.
The other finalist was Natalie Massenet, Founder and Chairman of Net-a-Porter.com, the luxury fashion retailer.
The Veuve Clicquot Award is regarded as the 'Oscar' for women entrepreneurs and those working in the corporate world in the UK. Highly prized and sought after, it is the first and original Award created specially to recognise the contribution women have made to the business life of this country. It is in its 34th year and now runs in 15 other countries and celebrates the memory of Madame Veuve Clicquot, a formidable and successful 19th century businesswoman, who created the Champagne House that still bears her name. Her audacity, bravery and creativity are celebrated each year, reflected in the light of the achievements of the finalists who, in their turn, present excellent role models for young women aspiring to their place in the business world.
Last year’s winner was Vivienne Cox, CEO, BP for Gas, Power & Renewables and Integrated Supply & Trading. High profile winners from the last 10 years include Dame Majorie Scardino, OBE, CEO of Pearson; Barbara Cassani, Founder and CEO of low-cost airline, Go; Dianne Thompson, CBE, CEO of Camelot; Linda Bennett, Founder of LK Bennett.