Lisa Pursehouse was honoured with one of the evening’s major prizes at the Nottingham Post Women in Business Awards last night.
Nottinghamshire’s Chief Executive was named Businesswoman of the Year in recognition of a 2015 that saw the Club attract its all time record Membership of 8,354, break its Twenty20 attendance record and deliver a successful Investec Ashes Test in which the urn was secured by England at Trent Bridge for the first time.
“Lisa is enjoying a distinguished and hugely successful career in what has traditionally been very much a man’s world,” said Nottingham Post Editor Mike Sassi.
“As a very prominent local woman in business, she has brought great credit, kudos and economic benefit to the sporting heart of our region.
“She has enjoyed stunning success as Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club - and its Trent Bridge ground - have created headlines on the local, national and international stage.
“She’s also a tremendous person.”
Pursehouse has been part of the senior management team at Trent Bridge since she joined the Club from Yorkshire in October 2000.
Starting as Sales and Marketing Manager, she progressed to Deputy Chief Executive five years later.
Working alongside Derek Brewer, Pursehouse was instrumental in attracting the 2013 and 2015 Investec Ashes to Trent Bridge, winning a competitive bid process that secured international cricket through to 2016.
In 2012 she was appointed to the top job and became the first female Chief Executive in English cricket.
Last year Pursehouse oversaw the securing of a further major match package for Trent Bridge from 2017 to 2019, including Test Matches against South Africa and India and matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Ann Priest, who recently retired as head of the college of art and design at Nottingham Trent University, received the lifetime achievement award.
The Nottingham Post received 500 nominations for the other ten awards with 32 finalists recognised on a night of celebration at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The 2015 season has seen dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.