Penny Hughes

For the fictional character, see Penny Hughes (As the World Turns).

Penny Hughes CBE (born 1959) is a British businesswoman.

Information

Hughes was educated at Birkenhead High School. While at the school she represented the county at hockey and lacrosse. She was awarded a first-class degree in chemistry from The University of Sheffield. She joined Procter & Gamble, as a technologist, then moved to the sales and marketing department. She was then recruited by the Milk Marketing Board, and later joined Coca-Cola as a brand manager. By 1989, having successfully overseen the merger of the bottling interests of Coca-Cola UK and Schweppes, she was appointed Commercial Director. In 1993, at the age of 33 she became president of the UK and Ireland businesses of Coca-Cola. She left Coca-Cola in 1995.

She has been a director of the Bodyshop, GAP, Trinity Mirror, Next, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Vodafone and Reuters She has been a non-executive directorship with Royal Bank of Scotland Group since 1 January 2010, and a member of the Board’s Remuneration Committee. She is a non-executive director of Morrisons, Cable & Wireless and Home Retail Group. She is also a trustee of the British Museum and president of the Advertising Association.

She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to the media industry.

She has two sons.