- Karren Brady has been voted the ‘Most Influential Woman in Football’ by supporters
- Vice-Chairman 'extremely proud' to win award in celebration of International Women’s Day
- Since being appointed in 2010, Vice-Chairman has overseen unprecedented growth of the Club
Karren Brady has been named the ‘Most Influential Woman in Football’ by supporters.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, which is being marked worldwide on Wednesday, the West Ham United Vice-Chairman was presented with the award and a £5,000 donation was made to her chosen Wellbeing of Women charity.
Since joining the Hammers in January 2010, the Vice-Chairman has masterminded the successful move to London Stadium and overseen the Hammers’ rapid financial growth into one of Europe’s top 20 clubs.
“It’s a great honour to receive this award and my sincere thanks go to everyone who took the time to vote,” she said. “To top a poll of what I am delighted to say is now an ever-growing group of distinguished and talented influential women in the game, is more than I could have imagined a quarter of a century ago when I first started kicking down doors!
“I say it often but there is still a lot of work to be done. My hope is that the talented women on this list will continue to pave the way and open doors for others to follow. My ultimate aim is to see more women occupying executive positions throughout the business community helped by those who led the way.
“I give credit to The Football Pools for bringing awareness to this important issue through the creation of this award to celebrate International Women’s Day. There are more women occupying key roles within the game than ever and to be recognised among them makes me extremely proud.”
The Vice-Chairman has been a leading light for women in football since her appointment as managing director of Birmingham City in 1993, aged 23, overseeing the Blues’ flotation on the stock market.
A mother-of-two, she was appointed as the Government’s Small Business Ambassador in 2013 was made a CBE for her services to entrepreneurship and women in business in January 2014, before being elevated to the House of Lords as Baroness Brady later the same year.
The Vice-Chairman has regularly been lauded for her inspirational support of women in business, being listed in The Sunday Telegraph's ‘100 Most Powerful Women in Britain’, named CEO of the Year at the 2012 Football Business Awards and among The Guardian's ‘50 Most Influential Women In British Sport’ on International Women’s Day 2014.
The Vice-Chairman took 42% of the vote, with BBC broadcaster Gabby Logan taking second place, ahead of Soccer AM host Helen Chamberlain, England Ladies’ captain Steph Houghton and former England boss Hope Powell.