RUTH SUNDERLAND: If Harriet Green was a man, would she still be boss of tour operator Thomas Cook?
Wonder woman: Harriet Green
If Harriet Green were a man, would she still be warming the chief executive’s seat at FTSE 250 travel company Thomas Cook?
The City went into shock at the news of her exit, wiping more than £350m off the value of the company, which is hardly surprising since Green was viewed as a wonder woman who had single-handedly resuscitated the ailing travel company.
She oversaw a root-and-branch overhaul of the business and was rewarded with a stunning revival in the share price along with a flood of accolades, including the coveted Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year award.
The official line on her departure is that her expertise is in picking up companies from the floor, and that having brought Thomas Cook back from the brink, both sides are ready to move on.
That is not entirely convincing: if it really were a smooth and amicable transition, it is unlikely that Green would be out the door instantly.
One cannot help wondering whether her flamboyant femininity played a part in her abrupt exit. If that is the case, it would be an astonishing display of ingratitude to a woman who, in terms of commercial performance, has outshone many male executives.
Privately, sources say Green has a ‘highly personal style’ that some found difficult to take. Unusually for a chief executive of either sex, she is open about her personal life and her family. Her departure comes just a few weeks after a jaw-dropping interview conducted in the gym of Brown’s, a five star Mayfair hotel, which none of the rest of the board knew about until it appeared.
In the strangely uncomfortable piece, she expounded on her sleeping habits (a couple of hours a night); her exercise regime (a training session with a former Marine at 5.30am); her hairdo (a daily blowdry before 7am), her relationship with her stepchildren and how she chose her husband (in seven seconds.) Previously, she has posed for pictures that showcased that gym-honed physique, held forth on her biological clock (it never rang) and on how other women take too much time off for maternity leave.
On her Twitter account, she describes herself as ‘Woman, Wife, Mother, CEO, Non-Exec Director and now cyclist!’
This level of extraversion is unusual for a chief executive of either sex, but particularly so for a woman.
The current crop is largely made up of bloodless figures churned out of management schools, who stick slavishly to a corporate script. They never speak out of turn, and any personal eccentricities or character quirks are ruthlessly ironed away.
Female bosses seem to try to be even blander than the male – and you can hardly blame them. They are exposed to a level of scrutiny not experienced by men, and are judged on a whole different scorecard that includes their personal appearance and their family life, as well as how well they run the firm.
Should it matter that Green is so outspoken? Not so long as she does a good job.
By all accounts she is a force of nature. Why shouldn’t she enjoy fashion, and talk about her life?
Besides, with her revelations about the secret life of the female CEO, she has added to the gaiety of the nation – and be in no doubt that there are plenty of male executives who live mainly in posh hotels and follow freakishly strict fitness plans too.
Green will be back soon, but whatever the reasons for quitting Thomas Cook, it leaves the stock market a less interesting place.
Most watched Money videos
- German car giant BMW has released the X2 and it has gone electric!
- The new Volkswagen Passat - a long range PHEV that's only available as an estate
- Mini unveil an electrified version of their popular Countryman
- How to invest to beat tax raids and make more of your money
- BMW meets Swarovski and releases BMW i7 Crystal Headlights Iconic Glow
- MG unveils new MG3 - Britain's cheapest full-hybrid car
- Iconic Dodge Charger goes electric as company unveils its Daytona
- Paul McCartney's psychedelic Wings 1972 double-decker tour bus
- Skoda reveals Skoda Epiq as part of an all-electric car portfolio
- Steve McQueen featured driving famous stunt car in 'The Hunter'
- BMW's Vision Neue Klasse X unveils its sports activity vehicle future
- 'Now even better': Nissan Qashqai gets a facelift for 2024 version
- Barclays profits hit by subdued mortgage lending and...
- MARKET REPORT: Meta sheds £130bn value after AI spending...
- BHP launches £31bn bid for Anglo American: Audacious...
- Unilever in talks with the Government about ice-cream...
- PWC partners choose another man to become their next leader
- Sitting ducks: Host of British firms are in the firing...
- Unilever sales jump as consumer giant eases price hikes
- WPP revenues shrink as technology firms cut advertising...
- BHP swoops on rival Anglo American in £31bn mining megadeal
- BUSINESS LIVE: Barclays profits slip; Sainsbury's ups...
- Anglo-American will not vanish without a fight, says ALEX...
- WH Smith shares 'more for patient money than fast bucks',...
- LSE boss David Schwimmer in line for £13m pay deal...
- AstraZeneca lifted by blockbuster oncology drug sales
- Ten stocks to invest in NOW to profit from Rishi's...
- Sainsbury's takes a bite out of rivals: We're pinching...
- Sainsbury's enjoys food sales boost months after...
- Meta announces it is to plough billions into artificial...