Leigh Thomson-Persaud is the perfect example of someone who has risen through the ranks by effort and dedication.She started 18 years ago as a filing clerk at BP and, after several promotions within the company, is now an executive PA in the chairman’s office, working as part of a team supporting Peter Sutherland.

“There are two of us here at BP, and I work closely with his two PAs at Goldman Sachs, where he is also chairman,” she says. “He also has a PA in Ireland, his home country.

“I have been in my current role for eight months, but was previously PA for nine years to John Manzoni, one of the group managing directors. He left last year to go to a new post in Canada. I was extremely flattered that he asked me to go with him. I chose to stay in the UK, but went out to Calgary to recruit and train his new PA.”

When Leigh entered for PA of the Year, John was enthusiastic, describing her as outstanding: “She excelled in a year of extraordinary and difficult transition for the company, and one of considerable uncertainty for herself,” he says.

During this time, Leigh continued with her own studies — she is taking a degree in strategic administrative management through distance learning — and John says that this was much to her credit.

Leigh has now established a good rapport with her new boss, who also had a torrid 2007, presiding over the sudden departure of Lord Browne of Madingley, BP’s chief executive.

Peter, the holder of an honorary knighthood, has chaired the petroleum giant since 1997 and, clearly, Leigh impressed him. He says of her success in PA of the Year: “I am delighted with her achievement.”

In her current job, Leigh deals daily with eminent business people and members of the Government — not bad for someone who left school after O levels, then put herself through a secretarial training course in the evenings.

“I feel that if you are not equipped for the job, you should find out what you need and acquire the necessary skills,” she says. “PAs shouldn’t be afraid to ask for training — and if I can do it, anyone can. I didn’t enter PA of the Year because I thought I was better than my colleagues — far from it — but to illustrate how continuing self-development pays off. It has enhanced my confidence and sense of professionalism.

“I never thought when I started here that I would be using my organisational skills for the highest level of senior management within the company, let alone working for an established world-class business leader.”

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