Carolyn McCall
Encyclopedia
Carolyn McCall OBE is the current Chief Executive of EasyJet
.
The only child of British expatriate parents (her Scottish father ran the Far East division of a US textile multinational; her Irish mother worked for the British embassy in India), she was educated in India and Singapore
until her teens, then at a Roman Catholic girls' boarding school in Derbyshire
. She studied for a BA degree in history and politics at the University of Kent
, Canterbury
, where she met her husband Peter (the couple have three children and live in Berkhamsted
).
On graduation she began training as a teacher
, completing a year at Holland Park School
. She then gained a Master’s in politics from the University of London
, and on graduation joined construction group Costain
. Offered a job on Kevin Kelly's Business magazine, she then applied to be a research planner at the The Guardian
, where she started in 1986.
Moving to advertising sales, she was mentored by Caroline Marland. Rising through the Guardian Media Group
behind Marand, Management Today magazine called her "One of the toughest operators to have risen through the Guardian Media Group's ranks." After rising to become CEO of Guardian Newspapers Ltd (now Guardian News & Media Ltd), she became CEO of GMG. During her tenure she sold the Manchester and regionally based business to Trinity Mirror
, and a 49.9% of Trader Media Group
to Apax Partners
, in a deal that valued the business at £1.35bn.
McCall was non-executive director of Lloyds TSB
(2008–2009), New Look (1999–2005; a position to which she was reappointed in 2010); and Tesco
(2005–2008), a position from which she had to resign after Tesco sued The Guardian for libel. She was chair of the Business in the Community
project Opportunity Now, and has also acted as President of Women in Advertising and Communications London.
On 24 March 2010, it was announced that McCall has been appointed the next Chief Executive of easyJet plc. She is said to prefer a "pragmatic approach to Human Resources
rather than politically correct niceties".
McCall was named Veuve Clicquot
Business Woman of the Year in April 2008, and in June awarded the OBE for services to women in business in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
.
The only child of British expatriate parents (her Scottish father ran the Far East division of a US textile multinational; her Irish mother worked for the British embassy in India), she was educated in India and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
until her teens, then at a Roman Catholic girls' boarding school in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. She studied for a BA degree in history and politics at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
, Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, where she met her husband Peter (the couple have three children and live in Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted
-Climate:Berkhamsted experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Castle:...
).
On graduation she began training as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, completing a year at Holland Park School
Holland Park School
Holland Park School was opened in London, UK, in 1958. It became the flagship for comprehensive education, and in its heyday had over 2000 in the student body. It became known as the "socialist Eton", and a number of high-profile socialists sent their children to Holland Park School, adding to its...
. She then gained a Master’s in politics from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and on graduation joined construction group Costain
Costain
The Manx name Costain derives from Thorstein and is of Viking origin. Theoretically every Costain in the world is related because the name comes from just one clan that established itself on the IoM around 1100 years ago. So Costain for example started in a small workshop on the Colby Main Road...
. Offered a job on Kevin Kelly's Business magazine, she then applied to be a research planner at the The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, where she started in 1986.
Moving to advertising sales, she was mentored by Caroline Marland. Rising through the Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
behind Marand, Management Today magazine called her "One of the toughest operators to have risen through the Guardian Media Group's ranks." After rising to become CEO of Guardian Newspapers Ltd (now Guardian News & Media Ltd), she became CEO of GMG. During her tenure she sold the Manchester and regionally based business to Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror plc is a large British newspaper and magazine publisher. It is Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers as well as the national Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, and the Scottish Sunday Mail and Daily Record. Its headquarters are at Canary Wharf in...
, and a 49.9% of Trader Media Group
Trader Media Group
Trader Media Group is a British-based publishing company, specialising in classified display advertising. It is owned by Guardian Media Group and Apax Partners ....
to Apax Partners
Apax Partners
Apax Partners LLP is a global private equity and venture capital firm, headquartered in London. The company also operates out of eight other offices in New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Tel-Aviv, Madrid, Stockholm, Milan and Munich. The firm, including its various predecessors, have raised...
, in a deal that valued the business at £1.35bn.
McCall was non-executive director of Lloyds TSB
Lloyds TSB
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc is a retail bank in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1995 by the merger of Lloyds Bank, established in Birmingham, England in 1765 and traditionally considered one of the Big Four clearing banks, with the TSB Group which traces its origins to 1810...
(2008–2009), New Look (1999–2005; a position to which she was reappointed in 2010); and Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
(2005–2008), a position from which she had to resign after Tesco sued The Guardian for libel. She was chair of the Business in the Community
Business in the Community
Business in the Community is a British business-community outreach charity promoting responsible business, CSR, corporate responsibility, and is one of the Prince's Charities of Charles, Prince of Wales....
project Opportunity Now, and has also acted as President of Women in Advertising and Communications London.
On 24 March 2010, it was announced that McCall has been appointed the next Chief Executive of easyJet plc. She is said to prefer a "pragmatic approach to Human Resources
Human resources
Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
rather than politically correct niceties".
McCall was named Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is both a champagne house in Reims, France, and a brand of premium champagne. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, Veuve Clicquot played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe...
Business Woman of the Year in April 2008, and in June awarded the OBE for services to women in business in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.