Alison Platt
British businesswoman (born 1962)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
25 February 1962
Alison Platt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alison Elizabeth Platt 25 February 1962 Oldham, Greater Manchester, England |
| Title | Chair, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, |
| Term | March 2020 - |
Personal life
Alison Elizabeth Platt was born on 25 February 1962 in Oldham, England.[1] She is married, with two grown-up stepchildren and a 14-year-old son. She lives in Teddington.[2]
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.[3]
She joined BUPA in 1993 and over 20 years held a number of progressively senior roles.[3][2]
She completed the Advanced Management Programme at Wharton School in 1998.[1]
In 2014, Platt was appointed CEO of Countrywide, the UK's largest estate agency group.[4][2]
She resigned in January 2018 after Countrywide issued its second profit warning in three months, and its shares fell to an all-time low; in the four years under her leadership she oversaw a drop from 300 pence per share to roughly 6 pence[5]. Her role was taken over by the chairman Peter Long, while a successor was sought.[6][7][8]
Non-executive roles
Platt was appointed a non-executive director of Tesco in 2016, a role she still holds.[9]
She was a non-executive director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.[1]
She was appointed non-executive director of veterinary pharmaceuticals company Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc in March 2020, becoming chair in January 2022.[10] In June 2023, the firm agreed to a £4.5bn takeover from Swedish private equity firm EQT AB.[11]
In October 2022, she was appointed chair of the UK subsidiary of global insurer Ageas.[12]
In December 2023, she was announced as chair-elect at FTSE 250 wealth manager Hargreaves Lansdown replacing Deanna Oppenheimer.[13]
