Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

Your industry news - first

The original and best - for over 20 years!

We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

MITIE Chief Executive awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List for 2012

Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive of MITIE Group, 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.

"I am truly honoured and humbled by this award," says Ruby. "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."

Ruby McGregor-Smith: Key dates

1963, 22nd February Born in Lucknow, India

1965 Emigrated to the UK

1975 - 1979 Bentley Wood High School

1979 - 1981 Lowlands Sixth Form College

1982 - 1985 Kingston University (Bachelor of Economics)

1985 - 1991 Qualified as an accountant training at BDO Stoy Hayward

1991 - 2000 Worked at Serco Group in a range of operational & financial roles

2000 - 2001 Worked at SGI|Babcock International Group

2002, December Joined MITIE as Group Financial Director

2005, September Promoted to Chief Operating Officer of MITIE

2007, March Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of MITIE

Other professional roles

Ruby is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Michael Page International, appointed to the Board in May 2007. She is also Chairman of Audit Committee, Member of Nomination Committee and Member of Remuneration Committee.

Personal Details

Married to Graham McGregor-Smith since 1990

Two children, a daughter aged 16 and son aged 13

T: +44 20 3123 8673
E: [email protected]
W: www.mitie.com

2nd February 2012