BENTLEY INSPIRES SUCCESS AT THE FIRST INSPIRING AUTOMOTIVE WOMEN AWARDS

• Four Bentley Colleagues recognised at first Inspiring Automotive Women Awards
• Peer-nominated awards recognise and celebrate 30 women from the industry who have inspired their colleagues
• Bentley’s winners include colleagues from HR, Engineering and Manufacturing

(Crewe, 3 October 2019) An engineering project manager, a manufacturing co-ordinator, a recruitment manager and one of Bentley’s board members have been recognised at the first “Inspiring Women in Automotive” awards today.

The awards are organised by the Automotive 30% Club, which aims to achieve a greater gender balance within the automotive industry, with the aim of filling at least 30% of key leadership positions in the member organisations with women by 2030.

The nominations for women who are an inspiration to their colleagues, celebrate Engineering Project Manager, Victoria Woolley; Talent Acquisition Manager, Claire Keith; Manufacturing Project Co-ordinator, Phoebe Jay, and Dr. Astrid Fontaine, Bentley’s Member of the Board for People, Digitalisation and IT.  All four are based at Bentley Motors’ headquarters in Crewe, where the company employs over 4,000 people.

Dr. Astrid Fontaine, Bentley’s Member of the Board for People, Digitalisation & IT says:

“I am humbled by the feedback from my colleagues that I inspire their daily actions and share my vision of an inclusive work environment at Bentley. Congratulation to my co-workers Victoria, Claire and Phoebe. The variety of their roles here in Crewe demonstrates the wide range of career opportunities for women in the automotive industry. Again, I want to thank every colleague that sees us as an inspiration as we continue on our extraordinary journey to inclusiveness.”

Victoria Woolley, Engineering Project Manager adds:

“I’m honoured to have received this award and it’s all the more special to know that I was nominated for it by my peers.  Awards like this are a great way to highlight the contribution that women are making to the motor industry, and the support that we give each other is vital to continue to inspire future generations.”

Julia Muir, CEO Gaia Innovation, Founder of the UK Automotive 30% Club says:

“Inspired by the women I worked with when I first joined the motor trade, I launched the awards to celebrate and recognise the unsung heroes of our industry.  Often their valuable contribution is appreciated and acknowledged within their own teams or by customers, but they are rarely given the public recognition that they deserve for their efforts to create a positive working environment. I want to honour these brilliant women who are ”lifting others as they rise” and make them visible.

All of our fabulous award winners have demonstrated that they are making a significant contribution to their business. However they are also committed to inspiring other women to progress or encouraging leaders to create inclusive working environments within which women will thrive, and they are personally involved in activities to show that the automotive sector is a positive career choice for women.”

- ENDS –

Notes to editors

Further information on Bentley’s winners

Claire Keith, Talent Acquisition Manager

• Time in current role and a brief description of key responsibilities
  Claire joined Bentley 11 months ago. She is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring a talent attraction and selection strategy that supports internal mobility and a high performing culture.
• Years in the automotive sector and previous roles
  11 months in automotive sector.  Previously, Claire worked as a Talent Business Manager responsible for recruitment and training for a luxury multi channelled retailer.
• What activities does she do to help get a better gender balance in the motor trade?
  As Claire is responsible for recruitment, she looks at activities to support recruiting a diverse workforce and monitor the website traffic to understand the audience Bentley is attracting. Claire is part of a cross-functional diversity working team to define activities, action plans and measures of success.
• Anything else of interest to note about her?
  Claire is passionate about delivering a Hiring Manager and Candidate experience that is in line with the values of our Bentley Customer Experience
• Her reaction to hearing that she is an Inspiring Automotive Women 2019
  “I am conscious that I have only been in the automotive sector for 11 months and therefore I was delighted to be recognised for my contribution to date.”
• What/ who inspired her to join the sector or progress her automotive career
  Claire has always had an interest in cars and loved driving. She specifically applied to Bentley as she enjoyed operating in the luxury space and Bentley combines heritage, craft and innovation.

Dr Astrid Fontaine, Member of the Board - People, Digitalisation and IT

• Time in current role and a brief description of key responsibilities
  20 months.  Astrid is responsible for all strategic and operational aspects of global Human Resources (HR) for Bentley Motors. She also leads the Digital Transformation and Digitalisation of enterprise, product (car and services) and customer related areas of the business. In addition, she is responsible for full strategic and operational management of all Information Technology (IT) for Bentley Motors globally. As Member of Board and director of the company, Astrid has personal responsibility and liability for Bentley Motors.
• Years in the automotive sector and previous roles
  Astrid’s career spans 25 years in the automotive sector

Since 2019: Volkswagen Group Services – Member of the Supervisory Board

Since 2018: Member of the Board - People, Digitalisation and IT

2016-2017: Emory University, Goizueta Business School – Adjunct Professor 
Information Systems – Digital Enterprise

2013-2017: Porsche Cars North America – Vice President Human Resources, Culture and Innovation

2012-2013: China Europe International Business School – Visiting Professor Business Strategy (Post-Mergers & Acquisition Management)

2007-2012: Emory University, Goizueta Business School – Ph.D. Doctoral Student, Information Systems and Business Strategy

2002-2006: Mercedes-Benz USA. LLC – Chief Information Officer – Information Technology MBUSA

2000-2002: Mercedes-Benz USA. LLC – General Manager – eBusiness/Digitalization

1998-2000: Mercedes-Benz Passenger Car (DCAG) Senior Manager, Head of Staff to the Board Member for MB Passenger Cars Prof. Hubbert

1996-1998: Daimler-Benz AG – Manager, Corporate Controlling Daimler-Benz

1995-1996: Mercedes-Benz AG – Manager, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Projects for South and North America

1994-1995: Mercedes-Benz-AG – International Management Association Program (IMAP) of MB

• What activities does she do to help get a better gender balance in the motor trade?
  It’s amazing to see how Astrid engages other females to progress their career in the automotive industry. On a regular basis, Astrid participates in panel discussions and shares her experiences as a former engineering student. This year she went to Japan and participated in the G(irls)20 summit discussing current G20 topics and showing ways to enable women to join the automotive industry. In addition, Astrid invented Colleague Breakfasts, where she meets colleagues from the whole company, sharing her ideas and beliefs. She focuses on recruitment of a diverse workforce and supports other females as a mentor.
• Anything else of interest to note about her?
  Astrid is a strong believer in sustainable luxury mobility as a holistic concept.
• Her reaction to hearing that she is an Inspiring Automotive Women 2019
  “I am absolutely amazed, surprised, happy and honoured at the same time to have been nominated for this outstanding award.”
• What/ who inspired her to join the sector or progress her automotive career
  Astrid’s Dad.

Victoria Woolley, Chassis and Powertrain Deputy Module Leader for the Bentayga Platform

Time in current role and a brief description of her key responsibilities

• Victoria has been in her latest position for 2 months as Chassis and Powertrain Deputy Module Leader for the Bentayga Platform.  Her key responsibilities include providing project management support within Product Line organisation and Module across Chassis and Powertrain for the Bentayga Platform. Victoria is responsible for driving project progress through module and relevant functions with focus on time, cost and quality.

Years in the automotive sector and previous roles

• Victoria has worked for Bentley Motors Ltd for 19 Years.  Previous most recent role as Chassis Engineering Functional Project Manager; whereby she delivered the Chassis systems for the Bentayga TDI, V8 and Phev projects.
• Previously to that she has held numerous Engineering roles including Chassis Engineering Build Support Engineer, Chassis Test Coordinator and Prototype Build Operations & Budget Coordinator.

What activities she does to help get a better gender balance in the motor trade

• Victoria’s ethos has always been to encourage everyone to follow his or her passion and dreams. There is a place for everyone within the Motor Industry, regardless of background or gender. She looks to inspire people; especially those that lack confidence that it is never too late to change once career, to complete further studies and be successful in the Motor Industry.
• Victoria is proud to work for a company that has one of the lowest median gender pay gaps in the automotive sector.

Anything else of interest to note about her

• 20 years after studying at University, after starting her family, Victoria went back to college in 2015.  She gained a Distinction in HNC Mechanical Engineering, whilst working full time in her role.

Her reaction to hearing that she is an Inspiring Automotive Women 2019

• “Completely awestruck, and amazingly honoured.  It is such a privilege to have been recognised my peers.  I do not see myself as inspirational I simply do my job!”

What/ who inspired her to join the sector or progress her automotive career

• 100% her Family – Victoria’s husband encouraged her to apply for a job at Bentley Motors; and has been the main person in her life to push her through her development, studying and career changes, and she could not have achieved what she has without all of his support.  Since becoming a mother, Victoria became keener to achieve more with her career and ensure that she set an example to her son. That it is never too late to achieve what you want in life, to change your career path, and take on new qualifications, and age should never be a barrier to achieve your goals.

Phoebe Jay, Project Co-ordinator- Manufacturing

• Time in current role and a brief description of key responsibilities
  Phoebe has been in her current role for one year. Previously, she completed a three-year advanced apprenticeship in the Paintshop and went on to do a year in the Paintshop Launch Team. Her main responsibilities include integrating bespoke, low volume projects such as the Mulliner No.9 & No.1 Centenary Limited Editions onto the Continental assembly line. Within this role Phoebe has responsibility for all vehicle areas which includes Interior, Exterior, and Powertrain & Chassis. The team also implements the Product Emergence Process for larger programmes such as next generation vehicles and model variants. Phoebe has been at Bentley for five years in total, joining after completing sixth form at the age of eighteen.
• What activities does she do to help get a better gender balance in the motor trade?
  Phoebe studied Business and Engineering from age fourteen at The JCB Academy UTC, the first school of its kind in the country.  In its pioneering year, she was part of just 10% of female students. They decided very early on that this balance had definite room for improvement and worked to engage local primary schools and invite girls aged 10-11 to an annual ‘Girls into Engineering’ activity sessions, led by the students. These sessions were made up of fun and engaging challenges that encourage teamwork, technical thinking, and innovation.  The JCB Academy has now been open for nine years and Phoebe has supported this event for two years as a student, was the event lead for two years whilst in sixth form, and has returned each year since leaving as a ‘Woman in Industry’ and as Bentley Motors’ ambassador. This year sees the 2019 student admissions with 25% female attendance, and Phoebe recently met learners that had attended her sessions back in primary school, which prompted them to apply.
• Anything else of interest to note about her?
  In her spare time, Phoebe likes to play and coach rugby union and touch rugby.  She has been playing for a total of eighteen years after starting at age five. She also coaches an U13’s team weekly at the local rugby club.  Two other coaches and her set up the junior girls section at the club four years ago and they now have over forty girls playing aged 12-18 from the local area of Crewe and Nantwich. Recently, Phoebe has also been selected to represent England at the European Challenge Trophy Touch Rugby competition.
• Her reaction to hearing that she is an Inspiring Automotive Women 2019
  “I was surprised, very excited, and honoured to have been nominated by my peers for an award as incredible as this.”
• What/ who inspired her to join the sector or progress her automotive career
  Early on, Phoebe’s mom was an integral part of facilitating her belief that gender was not a limiting factor; a general stubbornness she was born with. Her siblings and Phoebe all played rugby, she also all went to ballet - her brother was one of the best. Phoebe was the first female Cub Scout allowed at their local Scouts centre, and now there are more girls than boys there (She tried Brownies but climbing trees and building fires was much more appealing). Phoebe’s mum ingrained equality and equal opportunity to all, and empowered all kids to question stereotypes. She encouraged Phoebe to explore Engineering and Manufacturing initially, and has been her biggest advocate ever since.