Newcastle-born businesswoman in line for top national award

May 19 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

A NEWCASTLE-BORN businesswoman has been shortlisted for a prestigious First Women Award.

Now in their fifth year, the awards, held in association with Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets and supported by the CBI, celebrate the contribution of “glass ceiling” breakers to the UK’s economic and social fabric.

Ann Cairns, head of the European financial industry advisory group at the global restructuring consultancy Alvarez & Marsal, has been shortlisted for the Finance Award.

She is leading the restructuring of Lehman Brothers in Europe and was previously CEO of transaction banking at ABN-AMRO. In this role, she managed a business with over €5bn in revenues across 50 countries.

Ms Cairns earned a master's degree in statistics from Newcastle University and a first class degree in maths from Sheffield University.

This year's list includes: Freesat managing director Emma Scott, the "first woman of free TV"; the most senior woman delivering the London 2012 Games, Alison Nimmo; Chief Constable Julie Spence, president of the Association for Women in Policing; and Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby the first woman (and the first Saudi) secretary-general of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

The First Women Awards, whose patron is Sarah Brown, will be announced in London on June 11.