The under-pressure chief executive of Dundee’s Alliance Trust has been named as Veuve Clicquot’s Business Woman of the Year.
Fresh from a bitter boardroom battle, Katherine Garrett-Cox has proven her business mettle by beating Serpentine Galleries director Julie Peyton-Jones and Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts to the top prize.
The award is one of the most prestigious available to women in business.
Recipients have included Stagecoach founder Ann Gloag in 1990 and Carolyn McCall, now of Easyjet, in 2008.
The 2014 winner was Harriet Green, CEO of travel firm Thomas Cook Group.
Ms Garrett-Cox has enjoyed a long career in financial services but her initial rise was meteoric and she was one of the highest-profile women in the City by 26.
She cut her teeth as a portfolio manager with Hill Samuel Asset Management before moving on through the corporate ranks with Aberdeen Asset Management.
At Morley Fund management her role saw her take responsibility for more than £160 billion of assets invested in equities, fixed income, private equity and alternatives.
In 2007 she joined the Alliance Trust the Dundee-headquartered generalist investment institution as chief investment officer before being promoted to the top job.
She has since overseen a transformation of the business including a move to a new purpose-built headquarters on West Marketgait. But her tenure has not been without controversy, with her leadership twice challenged by major shareholder groups.
Last month Ms Garrett-Cox and her executive team were forced into an eleventh-hour deal with Elliott Advisors after they requisitioned the Trust’s AGM to force boardroom change.
The chief executive survived that episode, and Veuve Clicquot hailed her achievements.
Lorraine Larmer said: “This year’s winners are titans of business and are hugely inspiring in their approach to their business.”
Ms Garrett-Cox was delighted to have scooped the award.
“So many exceptional women have been recognised over its 43-year history, and I’m proud to shine a light on female success in financial services,” she said.