Three Toyota Women Named in Top 100 in Autocar Great British Women Awards

• Three Toyota women make the Top 100 list of the most influential women in the British motoring industry 2018
• Awards ceremony lights up London’s Barbican Centre
• Paula Cooper, Director Consumer One Toyota (GB) Plc was a panellist in a debate about women in the motoring industry

Three female Toyota employees had the honour of being selected in the Top 100 list of the most influential British women in the motor industry in Autocar’s annual Great British Women Awards, held in association with the SMMT:

Paula Cooper, Director Consumer One, Toyota GB (PLC)
Sophie Ogunbiyi, External Affairs Manager for Toyota Motor Europe (London Office)
Mairi Gordon, Assistant General Manager for Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK

The 100-strong ‘power-list’ looks to celebrate success and encourage more women into the car industry at all levels and in all sectors, from purchasing to product development.

Paula, Sophie and Mairi attended a star-studded Awards event at the Barbican Centre in London on Wednesday 20 June.

Paula had the additional honour of being a panellist in a debate about women in the motoring industry, alongside a wealth of high-profile leaders.

Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw added: “While there are certainly challenges in the car industry, it’s heartening to see such a wealth of outstanding British women thriving in an array of roles and in the most senior positions.

“There is plenty of work to be done but, by highlighting the considerable impact of these women, we hope we can inspire more women into our amazing automotive world.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be involved with this fantastic event again this year, celebrating the many achievements of the top 100 British women in the car industry. Issues of inequality are rightly in the headlines at the moment, highlighting the challenges that remain in ensuring everyone has equal treatment and equal opportunity. The motor industry has improved gradually but still has a long way to go and the women we celebrate today are often role models who have prospered in what is a highly competitive environment. We hope that in years to come, more and more women will follow in the footsteps of the top 100 and help the sector be truly representative of society and the customer base we serve.”

The event, organised by Autocar in association with the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), is backed by Toyota, BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, MINI and Nissan.

You can view the full list of the top 100 by visiting: https://www.autocar.co.uk/greatbritishwomen/2018

#GreatBritishWomen

ENDS