How did you achieve your current position?
An odd, but very lucky series of events. When I was a trainee with Harbottle & Lewis I was seconded to Virgin Atlantic. The head of legal there (Jill Brady) became head of legal at Lastminute.com. When I qualified Jill asked me to join her at Lastminute.com. Five months later Jill moved on and, in a moment of madness, Lastminute.com made me responsible for all legal affairs. I was only five-months’ qualified. That was two years ago and lastminute.com has since moved from a £30m (TTV) company to a £500m (TTV) Ftse 250 company, although I doubt there is any connection.
What have been your main challenges as head of legal since you took up the role?
Lastminute.com is a highly acquisitive, international e-commerce travel and lifestyle company, that operates to both an agency and principal model. With more than 15,000 suppliers, 1,000-plus employees and a strong global brand to protect, it is rarely out of the news. You can imagine the challenges that this throws up.
