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Autocar Unveils Winners Of 2025 Great Women: Rising Stars Awards Celebrating Female Talent
The winners of the 2025 Autocar Great Women: Rising Stars awards have been revealed, celebrating outstanding female talent in the automotive industry. This initiative, now in its tenth year, is held in partnership with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The awards recognise exceptional women across nine categories, highlighting their contributions to companies like BMW Group, JLR, and Renault Group UK.
Autocar's Great Women event took place at Horiba MIRA in Warwickshire. A total of 79 Rising Stars were acknowledged, with each category producing a winner. These individuals were celebrated for their remarkable achievements and contributions to their respective fields. The event also featured an Apprentice category, recognising 32 promising talents from across the industry.
Mollie Deacon emerged as this year's overall winner. As the general manager of Citroën Burton for Vertu, she also won the Sales category. Her leadership led to a 30% electric vehicle sales mix despite market challenges. Other notable winners included Sophie Rowe from BMW UK and Loretta Dittrich from JLR.
Mark Tisshaw, editor of Autocar, praised the high standards of submissions this year. He expressed confidence that all winners will continue to excel in their careers. "This year, the exceptional quality of the submissions made the judging process both challenging and rewarding," he stated.
Rachael Prasher, chair of the judging panel and managing director of Haymarket Automotive, congratulated all award recipients. She highlighted their talent and passion as crucial during this transformative period for the industry. "The exceptional talent, wide-ranging expertise and deep-seated passion underpinning the automotive sector are truly inspiring," she said.
SMMT CEO Mike Hawes commended the awardees for their diverse achievements within the automotive sector. He noted that these accomplishments demonstrate rewarding career opportunities available in the industry. "Congratulations to all the winners – the industry’s rising stars who are already shaping its future success," he remarked.
Event Highlights and Sponsors
The event featured talks from several industry leaders including Sarah Windrum from Horiba MIRA and Nicole Melillo Shaw from Volvo Car UK. Other speakers included Diane Miller from Stellantis and Lorraine Bishton from Subaru UK. Renee Knott from Aston Martin also shared insights during her presentation.
This year's Great Women initiative was supported by sponsors such as Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, Bentley, BMW Group, International Motors, Ineos Automotive, Keyloop, Lookers, Horiba MIRA, Nissan, TrustFord and Volvo.
The full list of category winners includes:
| Sales: | Mollie Deacon |
| Events: | Sophie Rowe |
| Manufacturing: | Lorretta Dittrich |
| Marketing: | Abbie Harris |
| Digital: | Molly Morrell |
| Operations: | Natalie Dowsett |
| PR and Communications: | Emily Giddings |
| Talent: | Shani Roberts |
| Vehicle Development: | Nash Vracas |
The social media hashtag for this initiative is #AutocarGreatWomen. For more information on all winners, visit Autocar's microsite dedicated to Great Women in the British Car Industry.
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