2010 Veuve Clicquot Award winner announced

Media Release

25 March 2010

EMBARGOED UNTIL 7.00PM

New Zealand’s 2010 Veuve Clicquot Award winner announced

Current Chair of legal firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Cathy Quinn has been named as the 2010 New Zealand winner of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award.

The Award pays tribute to female achievers in business and industry around the globe, who exemplify the qualities of Madame Clicquot, the entrepreneurial woman behind the successful champagne house Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.

Richard Yeomans, General Manager of Veuve Clicquot’s local subsidiary, said Cathy Quinn is a woman excelling at the highest level in New Zealand business, who clearly embodies Madame Clicquot’s characteristics of vision, innovation and tenacity. 

“Cathy Quinn currently sits at the head of one of New Zealand’s pre-eminent legal firms, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (MERW) which with 270 staff is one of the largest legal groups in Australasia. With a career at MERW spanning more than 20 years, Cathy has shown great tenacity as Chair, helping guide the firm through some very tough times, employing an innovative approach to business development and people management.”

Under Ms Quinn’s guidance MERW has formalised its Corporate Social Responsibility program, creating a unique blend of pro bono, community partnerships and sustainability initiatives, exemplifying her commitment to CSR, a criteria integral to the Award, Yeomans said. She has also been instrumental in increasing the focus on Corporate Governance in New Zealand, initiated by a white paper that she published, and is recognised as an expert on the subject.
 
“Passionate about women succeeding in business, Ms Quinn seeks to support women to develop their careers and make decisions to balance work and family commitments. Cathy has worked tirelessly to change the attitudes toward women in a profession dominated by men. Being elected to Chair by her peers, many of whom are male, says a lot about Cathy’s skills and how she is regarded in the legal profession,” added Yeomans.

As the New Zealand winner of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award 2010, Ms Quinn will fly to Reims, France, in October and join laureates from other countries at the annual Veuve Clicquot Businesswomen’s Forum, where a vine will be christened in her name.

Ms Quinn with join an exclusive network of businesswomen named ‘Friend’s of the Widow Clicquot’ and will receive a bottle of La Grande Dame champagne, the company’s prestigious cuvee release, every year on Madame Clicquot’s birthday. 

The Veuve Clicquot Award Business Woman Award was launched in France in 1972 to commemorate the house’s bicentenary and the extraordinary qualities of Madame Clicquot.

The recipient must display entrepreneurial drive; leadership skills; an ability to motivate and inspire others; to meet challenges, take risks and overcome obstacles to achieve business success. The recipient must have experience in managing a profitable company or organisation that has shown consistent financial success. She must also demonstrate a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. Reflecting the values of the Veuve Clicquot brand, the winner will be a woman with charisma, individuality, style and tenacity.

In 2010 the award will be celebrated in 17 countries, including New Zealand for the third consecutive year. 

The 2010 judging panel consists of; Catherine Savage, CEO of CMS Capital Ltd, Rosanne Meo OBE, Chairman of Briscoe Group Limited, Chairman of AMP New Zealand and Deputy Chair of Baycorp Advantage; Sally Synnott, founder of Pumpkin Patch; Sarah Kennedy, former Managing Director of Healtheries of New Zealand Limited and on behalf of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, General Manager Moët Hennessy New Zealand, Richard Yeomans.

Entertainment entrepreneur Julie Christie was the recipient of the inaugural New Zealand award held in April 2008.  Fashion and media entrepreneur Annah Stretton was the recipient of the 2009 award.

Ends

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