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Go was
started-up with a £25m investment by British Airways. It made a profit
within three years and Barbara headed a £110m management buyout backed
by 3i. A year later, the company was sold to EasyJet for £374m. In
2002, Barbara was named Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year and
was voted Entrepreneur of the Year among the readers of a top UK
broadsheet.
Following
this, Barbara was asked to be Chairman of London's Olympic Bid which she
successfully guided through the first bid stage before handing over to
Lord Coe.
She has long enjoyed participating in
sport and owns two three-day-eventing horses that are competing in the
UK at the highest levels. She competes herself at a lower level and
supports sporting endeavour across the board.
Barbara is married to a Briton and has
two children.
In 2003
she released a best selling book entitled "Go - An Airline Adventure"
that recalled her time at Go. The book was voted the WH Smith Best
Business Book by readers in 2004.
She is in
demand around the world as a lively and engaging speaker on leadership
and start-ups - drawing upon her experiences in the airline sector and
at the Olympic bid. |
