Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive of MITIE Group, was named on the New Year Honours List for 2012, and will receive a CBE for her services to business and diversity in business.
MITIE chief executive is awarded CBE
She joined MITIE, the FTSE 250 outsourcing and energy services company, in 2002, and was appointed CEO in 2007, and is one of a small number of women holding the position of Chief Executive in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, and the first Asian woman to be appointed in such a role within that group of companies. Ruby McGregor-Smith has overseen MITIE grow its revenues from £0.5 bn to £1.9 bn, continuing its 24-year track record of consecutive revenue and earnings growth. MITIE says she has embedded into the business her ‘strong belief that responsible business practice should sit at the heart of corporate strategy, and is fundamental to business success’. She has also become a national spokesperson on diversity in the workplace and on corporate boards; women in business; work/life balance; sustainability; reducing energy consumption; providing opportunities for the long-term unemployed; apprenticeships; entrepreneurialism, and growing businesses in recession. MITIE had a staff of over 62,000 in 2011 – making it one of the UK’s largest private sector employers.