Facebook’s Nicola Mendelsohn gets Women of Distinction Award at Jewish Care lunch

Samantha Cameron has presented Jewish businesswoman Nicola Mendelsohn with the Women of Distinction Award at a fundraising lunch for Jewish Care.

The wife of former Prime Minister David Cameron was the guest of honour at the Jewish charity’s 27th Women of Distinction lunch, which raised a £75,000 to support Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House, a registered care home for Jewish adults with mental health needs.

Interviewed by news presenter Samantha Simmonds, Cameron told 200 guests about life in the spotlight and how she was now fulfilling a life-long ambition to run her own fashion company.

She presented the award to Mendelsohn, 46, an advertising executive who rose to national prominence in 2013 when she was appointed Facebook’s vice-president for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Presenting the award, Cameron said: “You are a truly amazing, inspirational woman who is still so young, so glamorous and have achieved so much. It gives me great pleasure to present this award to you for leaving an indelible mark on both your profession and the community.”

Mendelsohn, whose husband is the co-president of Norwood, said she was “humbled,” adding: “I’m so grateful and honored to be recognized today. This beautiful award will have pride of place in our home”.

Awards co-chair Danielle Lipton said Cameron and Mendelsohn were “two successful women who are role models to so many at a time when celebrating women and their achievements seems to be more important”.