LINDA Jackson, global boss of Citroen, has been named as the most influential British woman in the car industry.

A panel of judges, which included industry experts from Autocar magazine and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, awarded her with the honour for her decisive leadership of Citroen, during a period that has seen the French manufacturer return to its roots of innovation and unique design.

She is not only the first British CEO of the French automotive brand, she is also the first woman to hold the role.

The Autocar Great British Women in the Car Industry initiative identified the top 100 British women working in the automotive sector to celebrate the role of women in the industry and address the challenges they face.

The judges examined the work being done by women across 10 categories in the auto industry. Other award winners included two from Jaguar Land Rover - Daniella Bagnall, the chief product engineer for the F-PACE and Fiona Pargeter, JLR's global head of communications.

As well as the overall honour, Linda Jackson also scooped top place in the executive category.

Linda Jackson, who was born in Coventry in the West Midlands, said: "It is such an honour to receive this award and to be recognised in this way. At Citroen, our motto is ‘be different, feel good' and I believe this award is testimony to the hard work and creativity of everyone in the team.

"I hope this initiative inspires women to pursue a career in the automotive industry. As the list of winners shows, there is a wealth of talent in the sector and it is a very exciting industry to be a part of."