Hospitality executives named among top 100 LGBT business leaders
Senior hospitality leaders have been named among those on this year's OUTstanding & Financial Times Top LGBT Executive list.
Jason Cotta, managing director, Costa International and Russell Braterman, brand marketing director, Premier Inn were both recognised for their influence, achievements and inspirational presence as LGBT leaders in business.
Braterman, who came in at number 98, has long been a supporter of LGBT activity as a founding member of LGBT groups in Whitbread and in a previous role at Vodafone. In 2014 he personally created Premier Inn's first ever LGBT external campaign, renaming the brand Premier Out for the day in support of Stonewall's Rainbow Laces. He created advertising with a new logo, digital profiles and multiple social initiatives and sent guest rainbow laces to hotels near stadiums.
He said: "It means a great deal to me personally and professionally to be part of this list. Whitbread is a fast growing business and key to our future success is creating a great place to work, which means building talented and diverse teams and a culture where everyone is welcomed and able to flourish."
Cotta, who is responsible for the 1,000 Costa stores outside the UK, was listed as number 77. He is a working parent of a nine-year-old son and advocates a work life balance and flexibility for parents. He is renowned at Whitbread for supporting action for diversity and mentoring LGBT individuals, many of whom consider him instrumental to their ability to feel comfortable being out at work. He is a founding member of Whitbread's Broadening the Talent Pool Diversity Committee.
He said: "Achieving this recognition for the work I have done is very rewarding and my hope is that it will raise awareness of Whitbread as a company where individuality and diversity are welcomed."
Sodexo's Ireland country president Margot Slattery (pictured) featured on the list for the second consecutive year. She was listed as number 42, while Jonathan Mildenhall, the chief marketing officer of AirBnB, featured as number 54.
