Veuve Clicquot Award 2009 Finalists Announced

Media Release
23 February 2009

Veuve Clicquot Award 2009 Finalists Announced

Veuve Clicquot has selected five finalists for its 2009 Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman’s Award in New Zealand.

Prominent businesswomen Annah Stretton (CEO Stretton Clothing and Stretton Publishing), Jenny Morel (Managing Partner No.8 Ventures), Mary Devine (CEO Ezibuy Ltd), Sarah Kennedy (Managing Director Healtheries NZ) and Sarah Trotman (CEO Bizzone) have been named as this year’s finalists.

Judges for the Award said they were thrilled with the calibre of applicants received this year and had a hard task ahead of them determining which of the five finalists would receive the internationally recognised accolade.

Richard Yeomans, General Manager of Veuve Clicquot’s local subsidiary in New Zealand, said the nominations received in 2009 showed once again that New Zealand was full of audacious and visionary businesswomen.

“The Veuve Clicquot Award celebrates the achievements of businesswomen who exemplify the extraordinary qualities of Madame Clicquot, the woman behind the successful international champagne house Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. Each of our finalists demonstrates the entrepreneurial drive, leadership skills, individuality and tenacity that made Madame Clicquot who she was.”Â

Alongside Richard Yeomans as judges are Rosanne Meo (OBE, Chairman of Briscoe Group Limited, Chairman of AMP New Zealand and Deputy Chair of Baycorp Advantage); Sally Synnott (Pumpkin Patch founder); Catherine Savage (CEO of CMS Capital Ltd) and Sharon Hunter (co-founder of PC Direct, project director for Robinhood Foundation).

The Veuve Clicquot Award was launched in France in 1972, and is presented in 18 countries including New Zealand.

As well as the honour of winning the award in New Zealand, the recipient will travel to Champagne, France, to join past and present laureates from other countries at the Veuve Clicquot Businesswomen’s Meeting. While in France, the winner will christen a vine in her own name and enrol as a Friend of the Widow. Each year thereafter she will receive a gift of La Grande Dame champagne, the company’s prestige cuvée release, produced from the vineyards owned by la Veuve Clicquot.

The winner of New Zealand’s 2009 Veuve Clicquot Award will be announced on March 13th.

ENDS

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