- City Chief Executive to receive Outstanding Contribution to Business in Britain award
- Susan holds a dual role between Leicester City and parent company King Power
Leicester City Chief Executive Susan Whelan is to be recognised for an outstanding contribution to business in Britain this month, at the prestigious Irish Post Awards 2016.
Dublin-born Susan – the Club’s CEO since 2011 – is to be honoured at the annual event in London on 25 November, which will see over 1,000 guests come together to celebrate the many successes of the Irish in Britain.
Since joining the Board of Directors following King Power’s takeover in 2010 as a trusted, long-time aide of the Srivaddhanaprabha family, Susan has combined her duties at Leicester City with her role as Senior Executive Vice President of parent group King Power – helping both organisations to flourish individually and in partnership.
Susan’s expertise in purchasing and merchandising, planning and development – built over 20 years in the industry – have helped keep King Power at the global forefront of duty free retail, strengthening the company’s status as a market leader in an infamously competitive field.
And in her six-year association with the Foxes, Susan has proven adept at transferring those skills to the notoriously impulsive world of professional sport, overseeing a holistic transformation of a Club not long out of English football’s third tier upon her arrival, to Premier League champions. The Club’s achievements on the pitch aligned with its supporter interaction, its community focus and commitment to its principles of goodwill has made the Leicester City story one of the greatest sporting tales ever told, capturing the hearts of people all over the world.
Susan joins a prestigious list of previous winners at The Irish Post Awards, which has honoured the likes of George Best (posthumously), Eamonn Holmes, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Michael Flatley, and Louis Walsh in recent years. The 2016 event will also see former Foxes manager Martin O’Neill collect the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award.
“I’m truly honoured and humbled to receive this award and to be recognised by a publication as highly regarded as The Irish Post – an institution for the Irish community living in Britain,” Susan said.
“At both Leicester City and King Power, I have been fortunate enough to work with some extremely talented, driven, conscientious people that have helped both organisations achieve extraordinary feats. It is a pleasure and a privilege to represent them, both independently and collectively under the King Power Group of Companies.
“I’d like to extend my congratulations to all this year’s Irish Post Awards winners, whose commitment and contribution to their individual fields should be an inspiration not only to the people of Ireland, but to people around the world.”
The Irish Post Awards will be held at the Grosvenor House on Park Lane on Friday 25th November 2016. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan will deliver the Keynote Speech on the evening and Eamonn Holmes will once again act as the Master of Ceremonies. Martin O’Neill will attend on the evening to accept the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award and Shane Richie will attend to receive the Entertainment Legend Award for his contribution to the industry throughout his career.