Alison Platt
{{short description|British businesswoman (born 1962)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alison Platt
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| birth_name = Alison Elizabeth Platt
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|02|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Oldham, Greater Manchester, England
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| title = Chair, Dechra Pharmaceuticals,
| term = March 2020 -
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Alison Elizabeth Platt (born 25 February 1962) is a British businesswoman. She was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Countrywide, the UK's largest estate agency group from 2014 to January 2018.
Personal life
Alison Elizabeth Platt was born on 25 February 1962 in Oldham, England.{{cite news |last=Chynoweth |first=Carly |date=12 July 2005 |title=Managing with the mandarins |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/managing-with-the-mandarins-qfr0sfhh9t2 |work=The Times}} She is married, with two grown-up stepchildren and a 14-year-old son. She lives in Teddington.{{cite news|last1=Blackhurst|first1=Chris|title=Countrywide chief Alison Platt: The former air steward who's flying high at helm of Britain's biggest estate agent|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/countrywide-chief-alison-platt-the-former-air-steward-whos-flying-high-at-helm-of-britains-biggest-a3162951.html|accessdate=24 August 2017|work=London Evening Standard|date=22 January 2016}}
Career
Platt joined British Airways as a management trainee straight from school, turning down the offer of a university place. She worked there for 13 years, including as a flight attendant.{{cite news|last1=Smithers|first1=Rebecca|title=I'm a believer – how women can achieve managerial career success|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/feb/26/women-managerial-career-success|accessdate=24 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=26 February 2011}}
She joined BUPA in 1993 and over 20 years held a number of progressively senior roles.{{cite news|last1=Smithers|first1=Rebecca|title=I'm a believer – how women can achieve managerial career success|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/feb/26/women-managerial-career-success|accessdate=24 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=26 February 2011}}
She completed the Advanced Management Programme at Wharton School in 1998.
In 2014, Platt was appointed CEO of Countrywide, the UK's largest estate agency group.{{cite web|title=Alison Platt Helen Normoyle|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=208372611&privcapId=876821|website=Bloomberg|accessdate=24 August 2017}}
She resigned in January 2018 after Countrywide issued its second profit warning in three months, and its shares fell to an all-time low. Her role was taken over by the chairman Peter Long, while a successor was sought.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/279355/countrywides-chief-executive-alison-platt-has-resigned|title=Countrywide's chief executive has resigned after recent profit warning|first=Rebecca|last=Smith|date=24 January 2018|website=cityam.com|accessdate=2 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202190534/http://www.cityam.com/279355/countrywides-chief-executive-alison-platt-has-resigned|archive-date=2 February 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/markets/article/countrywide-chief-alison-platt-quits-after-share-price-hits-record-low-bn9x67stf|title=Countrywide chief Alison Platt quits after share price hits record low|first=Martin|last=Strydom|date=2 February 2018|publisher=|access-date=2 February 2018|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/24/countrywide-boss-resigns-as-shares-hit-new-low|title=Countrywide boss resigns as shares hit new low|first=Angela|last=Monaghan|date=24 January 2018|website=the Guardian|accessdate=2 February 2018}}
=Non-executive roles=
Platt was appointed a non-executive director of Tesco in 2016, a role she still holds.{{cite web|title=Tesco's Board and Executive Committee|url=https://www.tescoplc.com/about-us/board-and-executive-committee/board/|website=Tesco|accessdate=24 August 2017}}
She was a non-executive director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
She was appointed non-executive director of veterinary pharmaceuticals company Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc in March 2020, becoming chair in January 2022.{{Cite web|title=Dechra Board and Senior Executive Team|url=https://www.dechra.com/our-company/the-board-and-senior-executive-team|website=www.dechra.com}} In June 2023, the firm agreed to a £4.5bn takeover from Swedish private equity firm EQT AB.{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Maxine|title=Dechra agrees £4.5bn takeover offer from buyout group EQT|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f3c8199f-458d-4903-81a9-f25fbf623a48|accessdate=3 Jan 2024 |work=Financial Times|date=2 June 2023}}
In October 2022, she was appointed chair of the UK subsidiary of global insurer Ageas.{{cite news|last1=Kokozka|first1=Pamela|title= Alison Platt to replace Mark Winlow as chair of Ageas UK board|url=https://www.postonline.co.uk/people/7948576/alison-platt-to-replace-mark-winlow-as-chair-of-ageas-uk-board|accessdate=3 Jan 2024 |work=Insurance Post|date=14 June 2022}}
In December 2023, she was announced as chair-elect at FTSE 250 wealth manager Hargreaves Lansdown replacing Deanna Oppenheimer.{{cite news|last1=O'Conner|first1=Tara|title= Hargreaves Lansdown chairperson to step down|url=https://www.ftadviser.com/companies/2023/11/29/hargreaves-lansdown-chairperson-to-step-down/|accessdate=3 Jan 2024 |work=FT Advisors|date=29 November 2023}}
References
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Category:People from Teddington
Category:British women in business
Category:British corporate directors
Category:British chief executives
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