Karen Forrester, managing director of TGI Friday’s, collected Britain’s Most People Focused Chief Executive Award at this year’s HR Excellence Awards
She held off competition from McDonald’s UK chief executive Jill McDonald to collect the prize.
KFC was also celebrating at the awards after collecting the overall HR Gold Award for excellence and the best employee engagement strategy prize.
Forrester told HR magazine: “Winning most people-focused chief executive means the world to me. I was here four years ago, and saw the winner walk away with it, and I thought: I want to win that. Tonight, I’ve fulfilled that dream. For me, it’s always been the case that it’s about people. In this industry you won’t succeed, if you don’t understand what motivates your people.”
One employee said: “She has a rare blend of being incredibly approachable and operationally empathetic, with a strong commercial ability.”
