17.09.14
East Coast MD wins ‘Woman of the Year’ award
Karen Boswell, managing director of East Coast, has won Woman of the Year 2014 at the Women 1st Shine Awards.
The award, presented at a ceremony in London on Tuesday, means that Boswell now joins the elite Top 100 Club of Britain’s most influential women in hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Karen Boswell said: "This award is one for the team; it's for every one of my colleagues in East Coast who has helped to transform our business over the last five years. I'm absolutely thrilled to have won this award, and we're all really so proud of what we've been able to achieve together to turn around this jewel in the crown of Britain's railways."
The Women 1st Shine Awards were created to raise the profile of women who were already making a mark on their industry. In an industry where women account for just 20% of the workforce, Karen Boswell has made her mark. She took over at East Coast in 2009, after the business had failed twice previously.
Under Boswell’s leadership, East Coast says it has created a successful business model and developed a people strategy that focuses on delivering talent and innovation. The company is also now one of Britain's most profitable train companies, delivering strong returns for the taxpayer.
Boswell’s colleagues at East Coast describe her as "an authentic spirited leader" who has created a unique 'Brand Boswell'. She also supports and mentors other women in the East Coast business, and is an active member of Forward Ladies, which seeks to inspire women in professional life.