Olympic challenge for high-flyer

WHEN Barbara Cassani sold the no frills airline Go to easyJet for £374 million, just four years after she had launched the company for British Airways, she made an estimated £16 million.

Yet the 43-year old American jumped at another challenge- the chance to lead London’s bid to bring the Olympics to London in 2012. As she says, you can’t get any bigger than the Olympics.

“It was such amazing luck to be chosen for this job given my nationality,” says Boston born Barbara, who has been based in London for 17 years. “I think I’ve proven I’m someone who can get things done, and I think we have a really good chance of winning; therefore everything needs to be lined up with that single approach.”