The Daily Mail
Date
Reading Time
10 Minutes
The Daily Mail – “The housewife tycoon too busy to name her baby”
Tactical summary: While the Daily Mail piece is largely admiring, it does touch on the controversy surrounding Benattar’s project – noting that the 1960s demolition of the Savoy-Plaza hotel drew protests from New Yorkers (such as economist J.K. Galbraith). However, the coverage frames this in a positive context: despite public outcry, Benattar’s vision proved justified as “tenants flocked to the new building” once it was complete. Overall, the Daily Mail’s coverage is enthusiastic about Benattar’s bold character and successes, portraying her as a fearless deal-maker who earned an almost legendary status in business circles
London’s Daily Mail featured a review of Vicky Ward’s book The Liar’s Ball, which shines a spotlight on Cecilia Benattar’s role in the GM Building saga. The review heaps praise on Benattar’s deal-making savvy. It describes her, at 32, as “a Mancunian with the negotiating skills of a pit-bull terrier,” and notes that in clinching the General Motors deal, Benattar – dubbed “the ‘housewife tycoon’” – had pulled off the “business shock of the year.”
These word-for-word accolades emphasize her tenacity and the surprise of her triumph in a field then dominated by men. The article goes on to recount incredible anecdotes that bolster Benattar’s reputation: for example, how she gave birth on a Friday and returned to work by Monday, delaying naming her baby for six months due to being so absorbed in leasing deals.