Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive of MITIE Group PLC, was named on the New Year Honours List for 2012 and will be honoured with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to business and diversity in business.
Ruby joined MITIE, the FTSE 250 outsourcing and energy services company, in 2002 and was appointed as CEO in 2007. She is one of a small number of women holding the position of Chief Executive in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 and is the first Asian woman to be appointed in such a role within that group of companies.
Since joining, Ruby has overseen MITIE grow its revenues from £0.5bn to £1.9bn, continuing its 24-year track record of consecutive revenue and earnings growth. She has also embedded into the business her strong belief that responsible business practice should sit at the heart of corporate strategy and is fundamental to business success.
This ethos has not only benefited MITIE’s now 62,000 employees in countless ways, but Ruby has become a national spokesperson on issues which include: diversity in the workplace and on corporate boards; women in business; work life balance; sustainability; reducing energy consumption; providing opportunities for the long-term unemployed; apprenticeships in the UK; entrepreneurialism; growing businesses in recession; and many more.
Ruby’s vision to make MITIE one of the largest integrated facilities management providers in the UK has come to fruition. Over this time she has also grown MITIE’s employee base, from 23,000 people in 2003, to over 62,000 people in 2011 – making it one of the UK’s largest private sector employers.
Ruby McGregor-Smith said: “I am truly honoured and humbled by this award. I am passionate about promoting opportunities, entrepreneurialism and diversity in the UK, and delighted to have made a contribution and been recognised with such an honour.”