How did you achieve your current position?
After 16 years in private practice, 10 as a partner at Simmons & Simmons, I decided I wanted to do something different. I got to know the top management team at Gallaher, led by the CEO Nigel Northridge, and was very impressed by what I saw. One thing led to another and I joined the company as group legal counsel in December 2000. Having been with the company a relatively short time I felt honoured and excited to be asked to take up the combined role of company secretary and general counsel.
What have been your main challenges since you took up the role of group legal counsel?
In essence, the same as those faced in private
practice, such as effective time management. The transformation was easier than I expected because I work alongside an excellent in-house team led by Suzanne Wise, who is my head of legal.
