Linda Jackson, Citroën’s global chief executive, has been recognised as “the most influential British woman in the car industry” by Autocar magazine.

It worked in partnership with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to identify 100 influential British women working globally in the automotive sector.

Jackson was head of Citroen UK between 2010 and 2014, when she became the first woman, and the first Briton, to take the global chief executive post at the French carmaker.

A panel of judges awarded Jackson with the honour for her decisive leadership of Citroën, during a period that has seen the French manufacturer return to its roots of innovation and unique design.

Other nominees listed in the top 100 included:

  • Angela Barrow, former managing director, Emac,
  • Laura Brailey, national sales manager at Mazda UK,
  • Jennie Chinn, regional operations manager at Vauxhall,
  • Paula Cooper, general manager, network development at Toyota UK
  • Yvonne Cubbage, dealer principal at Hartwell Ford in Abingdon,
  • Victoria Finn, head of marketing communications, Pendragon,
  • Nicola Gilda, strategy and operations director at Ford dealer Peoples Group,
  • Jane Hargreaves, dealer principal at Wrexham Volkswagen,
  • Rebecca Hurrell, academy manager at Hyundai UK,
  • Alison Jones, brand director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars UK,
  • Sally Jones, customer services director at Mercedes-Benz Cars UK,
  • Sarah Nelmes, UK network development manager at Jaguar Land Rover,
  • Sue Robinson, director, RMI and NFDA,
  • Angela Shepherd, network operations director, Mercedes-Benz UK (winner of the sales category),
  • Sarah Simpson, UK regional director at Bentley,
  • Rebecca Stead, head of network development at Honda UK,
  • Pauline Turner, managing director of multi-franchised dealer Chorley Group. 

Jackson said: “It is such an honour to receive this award and to be recognised by Autocar in this way. At Citroën, our motto is ‘be different, feel good’ and I believe this award is testimony to the hard work and creativity of everyone in the team.

“I hope this Autocar initiative inspires women to pursue a career in the automotive industry. As the list of winners shows, there is a wealth of talent in the sector and it is a very exciting industry to be a part of.”