- Kate Swann
Kathryn Elizabeth Swann (born Kathryn Elizabeth Prior, 1964, Bishop's Stortford,
Hertfordshire ) is a British retail executive.Early life
Kate Swann [http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/management/external/content.php?section=news&page=news061008swann 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 will received an honorary doctorate from theUniversity of Bradford in July 2007. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=First honorary graduates of 2007 for Bradford
url=http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/pr/pressreleases/2007/hon-grads-july.php |work=University of Bradford Press Release |publisher= |date=14 July 2007 |accessdate=2008-07-05 ]Career
She became Chief Executive of
WH Smith on November 1 2003. She previously held positions withTesco Plc as a graduate trainee in 1989, Homepride Foods,Coca-Cola Schweppes andDixons Stores Group . She then worked forHomebase , ultimately as Managing Director, and in 2000 was made Managing Director of Argos. She is a non-executive director of The British Land Company PLC.In 2006, Fortune magazine listed her as one of the 50 most powerful women in business. [ [http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fortune/mostpowerfulwomen_intl/34.html Fortune: 50 Most Powerful Women in Business 2006, International: Kate Swann] ]
Personal life
She lives in
Bishop's Stortford and is married to Michael, a manager atSainsbury's , with two daughters (born August 1995 and April 2003). They married in May 1987 in Bishop's Stortford.References
*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Swann seeks cure for ailing name |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3743240.stm |work=BBC News |publisher= |date= 14 October, 2004, 14:51 GMT 15:51 UK
accessdate=2008-07-05
*cite news |first=Susie |last=Mesure |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Interview: Kate Swann - Argos highflyer takes up the WH Smith
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20040424/ai_n12786778 |work=The Independent (London) |publisher= |date= Apr 24, 2004 |accessdate=2008-07-05External links
* [http://www.whsmithplc.com/WHSPLC-OC-Dirs.htm WHSmith PLC - Company Directors]
* [http://www.britishland.com/kswann.htm British Land]
* [http://www.cchs.co.uk/news-events/kate-swann.php Colchester County High School for Girls]News items
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2004/apr/25/theobserver.observerbusiness8 "Observer" April 2004]
* [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/kate-swann-argos-highflyer-takes-up-the-wh-smith-gaunlet-561046.html "Independent" April 2004]
* [http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2004/1/30/126584.html Getting a £2.6m golden hello in 2004]
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