Debbie Hewitt

Debbie Hewitt
MBE
Born (1963-08-31) 31 August 1963 (age 61)[1]
NationalityBritish
EducationUniversity of Bath
OccupationBusinesswoman
TitleChairwoman The Football Association (FA)
TermJanuary 2022–
SpousePaul Hewitt
Children2

Alison Deborah Moira Hewitt MBE (born 31 August 1963) is a British businesswoman and sports administrator. She was appointed as chair of the Football Association in June 2021, taking up the role in January 2022. Hewitt is the first woman to hold the post.[2] Hewitt was previously chairwoman of The Restaurant Group.[3]

Early life

Alison Deborah Moira Hewitt[4] was born on 31 August 1963[5] and grew up in Nottinghamshire.[6] While studying for her A-levels, her mother died.[7] Her grandfather, Dr Vivian Brackstone, received an MBE for saving the lives of his fellow prisoners-of-war in a Japanese prison camp.[7]

Career

Hewitt did not initially go to university, and began her career on a Marks & Spencer management training scheme.[7] She later joined Lex where she managed a Volvo dealership in Bristol; Lex sponsored her MBA from the University of Bath, which she completed part-time from 1992 to 1995.[7][8] She was chief executive officer of the RAC (which was part of the Lex group) from 2006 until 2008.[3][6][9]

Since 2018, Hewitt has been the non-executive chairman of BGL Group.[10] She is also non-executive chair of Visa Europe and White Stuff.[3][6] In the 2011 New Year Honours, Hewitt was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for services to business and to the public sector."[2][11]

In 2021, she was voted in by a unanimous decision of the seven-member selection panel to become the first chairwoman of the FA, following the resignation of Greg Clarke in 2020.[12][8] The FA Council ratified the decision in its 22 July 2021 meeting.[8] She announced that she would step down as chair of the Restaurant Group at the end of 2021.[12]

Personal life

Hewitt is married to Paul Hewitt, former finance director at the RAC,[13] and they have twins.[9] She is a life-long Liverpool fan and lives in Cheshire.[8] She is a parish councillor on the Hough and Chorlton Parish Council.[9][14]

References

  1. ^ UEFA.com (5 April 2023). "Debbie Hewitt | Inside UEFA". UEFA.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b MacInnes, Paul; Davies, Rob (8 June 2021). "Debbie Hewitt to become FA's first chairwoman in its 157-year history". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "FA names corporate boss Debbie Hewitt as first woman chair". Reuters. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  4. ^ "The Football Association". FIFA. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  5. ^ "English Football Association: Overview". UEFA. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Kelly, Liam (7 July 2019). "How we MBAed it: Patrick Grant of Norton & Sons, Julia Groves of Downing and Debbie Hewitt of The Restaurant Group". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Harris, Will (6 August 2013). "Role model businesswoman Debbie smashes through glass ceiling to be made MBE". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d Lawton, Matt; Ziegler, Martyn (8 June 2021). "Debbie Hewitt appointed first chairwoman of Football Association". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Debbie Hewitt". Retail Week. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Debbie Hewitt". Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  11. ^ United Kingdom: "No. 59647". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 17.
  12. ^ a b Agini, Samuel (8 June 2021). "Debbie Hewitt to become first female chair of England's FA". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  13. ^ Waller, Martin (27 August 2003). "The RAC". The Times.
  14. ^ "Councillors – Hough and Chorlton Parish Council". Retrieved 8 June 2021.