Boss Jude takes the international lead

Mar 27 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A COMPANY director in Huddersfield has been named one of Britain’s best bosses.

Jude Nottingham, managing director of customer satisfaction firm The Leadership Factor, based at Taylor Hill, won the title of best international business at the 42 Under 42 Awards held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

It is the second year running that the award has gone to a Huddersfield entrepreneur. Last year’s winner was Gavin Wheeldon, managing director of translation agency Applied Language Solutions, based at Armitage Bridge.

The awards, organised by Insider business magazine, identify 42 of the region’s up-and-coming business leaders.

Jude, 33, joined the company shortly after it was formed in 1996 by husband and wife Nigel and Janet Hill. The firm moved from Meltham to Taylor Hill in 1999.

Jude, who was previously marketing director before stepping up to the role of managing director, has helped steer The Leadership Factor to its status as the UK’s leading provider of customer satisfaction surveys with a network of offices across eight countries – including the USA, Australia, France and Spain.

Jude was recognised for leading the company through a sustained period of growth, including recent expansion into Japan and the Ukraine.

She said: “The last few years have been very exciting for The Leadership Factor. Having an international aspect to our operations allows us to conduct customer satisfaction survey work on a global basis and I’m delighted that our efforts have been recognised.”

The Leadership Factor conducts more than 300 satisfaction and loyalty studies a year and runs training seminars on customer satisfaction. Its clients include Manchester United and Chelsea football clubs, Churchill, Visa, Tesco Personal Finance and Royal Bank of Scotland.