Shirine Khoury-Haq

Shirine Khoury-Haq is the first female Group Chief Executive Officer of the Co-op Group, recognised for breaking barriers in business leadership and championing diversity, equity and inclusion. Ranked first in INvolve’s 2025 Heroes Top 100 Women Executives list, Shirine is a sought-after D&I speaker who shares insights into breaking leadership barriers, fostering inclusive workplaces and driving organisational transformation. Her experience makes her ideal for corporate conferences, women’s leadership summits and diversity and inclusion events.

Shirine graduated from The Australian National University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Economics, before completing an MBA at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. She subsequently joined McDonald’s as Finance and Operations Manager and became an Associate Partner at IBM. After earning a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Leadership from the University of the West of England, she progressed into senior operational leadership positions at Catlin and Lloyd’s, gaining experience navigating traditionally male-dominated industries.

Shirine later became a Non-Executive Director at Post Office Ltd and Persimmon Homes. Joining the Co-op Group as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Servicer in 2019, she made history as its first female Group CEO in 2022. Under her leadership, net debt fell from £920 million to £55 million, underlying operating profit increased by 30% and membership grew from 4.2 million to 7.3 million. Her leadership demonstrates how diverse perspectives can contribute to organisational resilience and commercial success.

Recognised as PR Week’s leading UK Business Communicator in 2025, Shirine also co-chaired the UK’s Net Zero Council, later reprising the position alongside Ed Miliband. As a D&I speaker, Shirine draws on her experience challenging gender barriers, leading diverse workforces and championing inclusive leadership. She explores how organisations can create equitable opportunities, embrace different perspectives and strengthen workplace cultures, providing practical insights into empowering underrepresented talent, navigating change and achieving sustainable business success.