N.Z. Women Run Agency For Overseas Business

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 2

N.Z. Women Run Agency For Overseas Business

It was the inherent distaste among British businessmen for women in top executive posts that led a New Zealander, Miss Jean McLellan, and an Australian. Mrs Ruth Stewart, to establish themselves in London as an executive agency for out-of-town and overseas businessmen.

A little more than a year ago they left their secure, but “frustrating” jobs to set up Business Representatives (London), Ltd., at a Mayfair address to give a probably unique service to visiting businessmen and firms too small to maintain a permanent London office. From Christchurch Miss McLellan came to London in 1953 after eight years with a small firm of woolbuyers in Christchurch to whom she became company secretary. Her original home was Wellington After a variety of jobs she became office manager to a London firm of architects and engineers, but was always conscious of the aversion in Britain to women executives. Miss McLellan and Mrs Stewart met and discussed their mutual feelings on this point at a social occasion at Australia House. They agreed to have dinner together, grumbled over soup, exchanged their thoughts on an agency and by sweets had determined to go into partnership. Larger Offices They found an imnressive enough address in Hanover square, a few minutes’ walk from Miss McLellan’s Mayfair flat, walked into a freshly furnished suite of two small offices, ventured practically all they had on the business and now, after a year are desperately searching again for larger offices. Mrs Stewart was accountant to a travel agency until a year ago. She studied law before she left Adelaide and toured Europe extensively for her job in London. Cosmopolitan Clients They now have clients in the Midlands, an American firm sell-

{From the London Correspondent of "The Press’’}

ing an electronic switching device. and businessmen in Italy. South Africa and Australia. Some regard their office as a permanent representation in London, but Business Representatives are really after temporary clients. To these they supply a private secretarial service, undertake first approaches to business contacts, arrange appointments for businessmen visiting London and during their stay plan time saving itineraries, make tour bookings, travel and hotel bookings, arrange for the entertainment of their contacts and guests.

“Most people who do not know London just about kill themselves getting round appointments.” says Miss McLellan. Set Up Office

For one client they set up his first permanent office in London: found and furnished the premises and interviewed a secretarial staff. All this has meant a 10 and often 12-hour day for the partners. During a client’s stay in London he can arrange for the use of office space and a telephone service. For the really highpowered businessman they are ready to charter executive aircraft to speed him round the country.

The only mistake they made in this early experience was to undercost their basic services. Clients found they could do more than was at first expected. Now. extra services are costed on an hourly basis.

“I believe that no other firm is doing this kind of work at such a level,” says Miss McLellan. Clients, in fact, can expect the same service they should get from their own home office staff.