The CEO of PizzaExpress, the founder of the MOBO Awards and the co-founder of one of Europe’s fastest-growing matcha brands are among the finalists for the Veuve Clicquot Bold Awards 2026.
Now in their 54th year, the awards are the longest-running international honors honoring women in business. Created as a tribute to Madame Clicquot – who took over the champagne house at 27 and defied the conventions of her time – the program celebrates women who combine commercial success with bold, transformative leadership.
The awards are divided into two categories: the Bold Woman Award, which honors established leaders, and the Bold Future Award, which highlights emerging entrepreneurs who are shaping the next generation of companies.
This year’s leaders include Paula MacKenzie, managing director of PizzaExpress. Since taking the helm, MacKenzie has led a nationwide turnaround program, introduced new concepts such as the PizzaExpress Pod and expanded the brand domestically and internationally. Under her leadership, the company has achieved record levels of customer satisfaction, launched PX Records, its own record label, while raising more than £1 million for charity.
Kanya King CBE, founder and CEO of MOBO Group, is also shortlisted. Over the course of three decades, she has developed the MOBO Awards from a niche event into a globally recognized cultural platform. In recent years she founded House of MOBO in south London and introduced MOBOLISE, a UK-first initiative aimed at equipping 100,000 black talent with AI skills and career development opportunities. The MOBO Awards will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2026.
The trio is completed by Smruti Sriram OBE, CEO of Bags of Ethics from parent company Supreme Creations. Sriram has positioned the company as a global leader in reusable packaging, working with brands such as Dior, Harrods and Nike. Their vertically integrated supply chain model, employing an 80% female workforce, has helped eliminate more than 30 billion single-use items worldwide while achieving consistent double-digit growth.
The Bold Future Award recognizes ambitious founders who build impactful companies.
Alisha Fredriksson, co-founder and CEO of Seabound, has developed a modular carbon capture system that can retrofit existing ships and reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95%. In less than four years, she has taken the company from concept to commercial implementation with major shipping operators, building a specialist team and securing £8.5 million in funding.
Josephine Philips, founder of SOJO, has modernized the garment repair sector by integrating proprietary technology, logistics and internal operations. The platform now works with brands such as Ralph Lauren, Selfridges and Marks & Spencer.
Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed, rounds out the shortlist. At 28, she has helped grow the matcha drinks brand to annual recurring sales of £50 million, with distribution in more than 30,000 retail and café locations in over 50 countries.
Previous winners of the awards include Julia Hoggett, Professor Sarah Gilbert and Anne Pitcher, reflecting the range of sectors represented, from finance and science to retail and culture.
Thomas Mulliez, president of Veuve Clicquot, said this year’s shortlist reflects Madame Clicquot’s pioneering spirit. “They are redefining what business can be – from tackling plastic pollution and fashion waste to cementing black music at the heart of British culture.”
Sian Westerman, board member of the British Fashion Council and awards judge, said the finalists exemplified resilience in the face of structural barriers that continue to challenge women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on May 20, bringing together senior figures from business, culture and industry to celebrate bold female leadership.
