PAs in the news

Personal assistants have been making headlines across the globe these last few weeks. First up is the court case brought by that well-groomed doyenne of all things culinary, TV cook Nigella Lawson, who is currently embroiled in a fraud trial involving her former PAs.

Italian sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo stand accused of committing fraud by using a company credit card for personal gain. The figures bandied about by the media go as high as £685,000, which they are alleged to have spent on luxury fashion and upmarket hotels.

Meanwhile, a warrant for the arrest of Justin Bieber’s assistant was issued after he was allegedly caught by Customs officials at Brisbane Airport with a substantial amount of cannabis. Another pop star has also been at the source of a grievance involving a PA: Lady Gaga has settled out of court by paying an undisclosed sum to Jennifer O’Neill, who previously worked for the performer and who was seeking compensation for unpaid overtime.

Staying in the US, the former personal assistant of an Irish billionaire claims he owes her hundreds of thousands of shares of stocks in household name food manufacturer HJ Heinz. The lady in question, who worked with former Heinz CEO Anthony O’Reilly for 16 years, is bringing a lawsuit alleging, among other things, breach of contract and violation of wage payment.

Over in the Far East, the Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung has been forced to deny allegations that he is having an affair with his (considerably younger) personal assistant. Cheung has countered the rumours by saying that the two have a “purely professional relationship”.

With all this negativity flying around, thank goodness then for Avani Davda, the CEO of Tata Starbucks in India. This enterprising 34-year-old rose up through the ranks to her current elevated position after working as an executive assistant to one of the directors at holding company Tata Sons. Ms Davda, we salute you for smashing through the glass ceiling and making it all the way to the top.