Beaverbrooks the Jewellers’ CEO, Anna Blackburn, has become the second ever non-family member to be promoted to the board of the company, taking on the new role of managing director.
Anna joined the 99-year-old family business as a graduate trainee in 1998, and after working her way up within the business, accepted the role of chief executive officer in 2013. This appointment was significant on two levels – Anna was the first female CEO and the first non-family member to take up the role.
Under Anna’s leadership, the Lytham St Anne’s-based company has just had the three most profitable years in its history and as a result of Anna’s focus on making Beaverbrooks a great employer, the business has featured in The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For list for 15 consecutive years.
Mark Adlestone OBE DL, Chairman at Beaverbrooks, said: “Anna has steered the company through several key milestones and this promotion is a real reflection of everything Anna is doing – I’m thrilled for her. Anna has brought accountability, team work and really brought people together and her very fair and open style of management is what makes her liked and well respected throughout the business.”
Anna said: “It has been my great privilege to be a part of the Beaverbrooks Family for 20 wonderful years and as we approach our centenary in 2019, I’m excited for the future of Beaverbrooks.”
The Mum of two young children was named among the North West’s top 20 business women in recognition of her outstanding leadership skills, and was shortlisted for ‘Most People Focused CEO’ at the HR Excellence Awards. Anna also features in the International bestseller, The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organisations (Sixth Edition).
