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Dame Helena Morrissey, financier and campaigner

Dame Helena Morrissey, financier and campaigner, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury that she would take if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Dame Helena Morrissey is a former City fund manager and chief executive of a major investment company, who has also campaigned to boost the number of women in the boardroom. Newspapers regularly describe her as 'Superwoman', because alongside her many professional achievements, she's the mother of nine children.

Helena Morrissey is the daughter of two teachers, and her drive was evident from an early age. She was - by her own admission - a 'manic Brownie', striving to gain the maximum number of badges, and she also played the piano to a high standard. She won a place at Cambridge University from her comprehensive school in Chichester, and on graduating, joined an asset management company in their New York office. On her return to London, she felt that she was denied promotion because she had a young baby.

She moved to Newton Investment Management, and at the age of 35 she was appointed the CEO - a role she was not expecting to take. Under her leadership, the company's assets grew from Β£20 billion to Β£50 billion. In 2010 she established the 30% Club, campaigning for better female representation on the boards of British companies, and in 2017 she received a DBE for services to diversity in the financial sector.

She lives in London with her husband Richard, who gave up full time work to look after their many children.

DISC ONE: My Sweet Lord by George Harrison
DISC TWO: Polonaise in A Flat, Op. 53, Heroic, composed by Frédéric François Chopin and performed by Arthur Rubenstein
DISC THREE: We've Only Just Begun by The Carpenters
DISC FOUR: Being Boring by Pet Shop Boys
DISC FIVE: Moon River by Audrey Hepburn
DISC SIX: Calm Down by The Clementines
DISC SEVEN: Condolence by Benjamin Clementine
DISC EIGHT: God Is by Kanye West

BOOK CHOICE: Much Obliged, Jeeves by P. G .Wodehouse
LUXURY ITEM: A grand piano
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: My Sweet Lord by George Harrison

Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Cathy Drysdale

Available now

36 minutes

Last on

Fri 27 Mar 2020 09:00

Music Played

  • George Harrison

    My Sweet Lord

    • All Things Must Pass.
    • Apple.
    • 2.
  • FrΓ©dΓ©ric Chopin

    Polonaise in A Flat, Op. 53, Heroic

    Performer: Arthur Rubinstein.
    • Selections from the Chopin Collection.
    • RCA.
    • 6.
  • Carpenters

    We've Only Just Begun

    • Carpenters Gold: Greatest Hits.
    • A&M Records.
    • 13.
  • Pet Shop Boys

    Being Boring

    • EMI Records Limited.
  • Audrey Hepburn

    Moon River

    • Music From The Films Of Audrey Hepburn.
    • BMG.
    • 11.
  • The Clementines

    Calm Down

    • Calm Down.
    • Preserve Artists.
    • 1.
  • Benjamin Clementine

    Condolence

    • At Least For Now.
    • Universal.
    • 8.
  • Ye

    God Is

    • Jesus Is King.
    • GOOD Def Jam.
    • 8.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Mar 2020 11:15
  • Fri 27 Mar 2020 09:00

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