Harriet Green has been announced as the new CEO of Thomas Cook after a proven record of successes with her previous company, ‘Premier Farnell’, a global electronic part supplier. Green, who has no experience of working within the travel industry, replaces Sam Weihagen. She is also a non-executive director at BAE Systems and a member of David Cameron’s Business Advisory Group.
Noted for praising the benefits of a work/leisure balance, Green has a challenge ahead of her. She is leading a company that has issued three profit warnings in the last 18 months, with losses of just under £400 million in 2011.
In an interview for Steve Tappin’s self-help guide ‘Secrets of the CEOs’, Green says “I genuinely think, if you can’t do something for yourself for one hour a day, you have become a slave. Whatever is your challenge in yoga is your challenge in life. My challenge is balance.”
Meanwhile, Carolyn McCall is continuing to show her colours as a strong leader. Two years into her position of Easyjet CEO, raising the revenue in the six months to March 31st by 16% after increased passenger fees. “We’re well on the way to becoming Europe’s preferred airline,’ said McCall, ‘with people preferring us over the legacy carriers. We’ll be well down the road on our business class strategy.”
With women taking some of the reins in the travel industry, things are being shaken up with new ideas and a fresh work methodology, which can only be a good thing. As another female-run company, Gail Kenny Recruitment consistently delivers to a high standard, working with the best and most talented clients and candidates in the travel industry.
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