Kate Swann
Encyclopedia
Kathryn Elizabeth Swann is a prominent British
retail executive, currently Chief Executive
of WH Smith.
, Hertfordshire
, Swann graduated from the University of Bradford
in 1986 with a BSc
in Business Management. She was ranked number 21 in the Financial Times
Women in Business, Europe's top 25, in 2006. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford
in July 2007.
of WH Smith on 1 November 2003. She previously held positions with Tesco Plc as a graduate trainee in 1989, Homepride Foods
, Coca-Cola
Schweppes and Dixons Stores Group. She then worked for Homebase
, ultimately as Managing Director, and in 2000 was made Managing Director of Argos
.
In 2006, Fortune
listed her as one of the 50 most powerful women in business.
and is married to Michael, a manager at Sainsbury's, with two daughters (born August 1995 and April 2003). They married in May 1987 in Bishop's Stortford.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
retail executive, currently Chief Executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of WH Smith.
Early life
Born in Bishop's StortfordBishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, Swann graduated from the University of Bradford
University of Bradford School of Management
Bradford University School of Management, located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and established in 1963, is an international business school. It occupies buildings near Lister Park which are separate from the main University of Bradford campus...
in 1986 with a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Business Management. She was ranked number 21 in the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
Women in Business, Europe's top 25, in 2006. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
in July 2007.
Career
She became Chief ExecutiveChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of WH Smith on 1 November 2003. She previously held positions with Tesco Plc as a graduate trainee in 1989, Homepride Foods
Homepride
Homepride is a UK brand of pre-prepared cooking sauces, now owned by Premier Foods, which acquired the business in 2006 from the Campbell Soup Company...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
Schweppes and Dixons Stores Group. She then worked for Homebase
Homebase
Homebase is a British home improvement store and garden centre, with 350 stores across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is well known by its green and orange colour scheme. Together with its sister company Argos , it forms part of Home Retail Group. Homebase recorded sales figures...
, ultimately as Managing Director, and in 2000 was made Managing Director of Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
.
In 2006, Fortune
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
listed her as one of the 50 most powerful women in business.
Personal life
She lives in Bishop's StortfordBishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
and is married to Michael, a manager at Sainsbury's, with two daughters (born August 1995 and April 2003). They married in May 1987 in Bishop's Stortford.