// The awards focused on the future of the high street and the rise of ecommerce
// Women are the majority of 3 million employed by retail but only 26% of director-level roles are women filled
// Woman of the Year title went to Sainsbury’s Argos’ Alice Boaten
Sainsbury’s Argos’ Alice Boaten has taken the top gong at this year’s Everywoman in Retail Awards.
The London regional manager was honoured with the Woman of the Year award during the annual ceremony which celebrates leading women in the retail industry.
Winners were announced at a ceremony in London last night, which shed light on the future of the high street against a backdrop of the rise of ecommerce.
Seven winners were selected by a judging panel of industry leaders.
Chosen from 23 finalists, judges selected winners whose roles and businesses reflected the evolving retail industry and the connection between customer experiences and employee engagements.
Women currently make up the majority of the three million people employed by the retail industry but only 26 per cent of director-level roles are filled by women.
Boaten was honoured because of her drive for change, diversity and career enhancement.
She originally joined Argos as a Christmas temp in 2002 and over the course of her career, undertook a majority of retail roles which judges say has give her a deep understanding of the business.
The Rising Star award was given to Philippa Haigh, who is just at the beginning of her career and is already contributing to unprecedented increases in sales at Farnell Land Rover.
Meanwhile, a Male Mentor award was given to Gary Pickering from SSE, Cheltenham for his work in actively supporting the advancement of women in the sector.
Other category winners for this year included women who spearheaded the most complex operations at some of the country’s largest retailers, such as Sainsbury’s Argos and Gap.
The full list of winners:
Above & Beyond Award : Tracey Gilbert, Women’s Store Manager, Gap, London.
Customer Experience Excellence Award : Helen Flaxman, Senior Customer & Communications Manager, Superdrug, London.
Entrepreneur Award : Marisa Horden, Founder and Creative Director, Missoma Jewellery, London.
Leader Award : Amber Kelly, People and Culture Director, Post Office, London.
Male Mentor Award : Gary Pickering, Director of Sales and Retention, SSE, Cheltenham.
Rising Star Award : Philippa Haigh, Senior Sales Executive, Farnell Land Rover Guiseley, Leeds.
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