Bank boss Tracy Garrad who recently told how she hopes she can be a role model for other women as they battle to shatter the ’glass ceiling’ has scooped a major accolade.

Mother-of-two Tracy, 47, is the only Crown Dependency representative to be featured in a list recognising the top business women across the UK.

She is the chief executive officer of HSBC Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

Lancashire-bornTracy is named in the Cranfield Female FTSE Board Report’s national ’100 Women to Watch’ list, published this month, along with three more senior women from across the Bank’s UK operations.

They are Sarah Kirby, global head of HR for HSBC operations, services and technology (HOST), Kirsty Roth, group general manager and global head of operations at HSBC, and Dr. Alison Vincent, group chief information security officer for the Bank.

Considered a highly respected reference point, the 100 Women to Watch list aims to showcase the substantial female talent pool in the UK.

It includes women who hold senior executive roles in FTSE 350 firms and other significant organisations such as large non-listed companies, major charities, professional services firms, educational institutions and the Civil Service.

Tracy said: ’Real progress is being made in terms of gender equality at senior levels in the UK, and lists like these serve as a reminder that there are women at the very top who are removing any perceived glass ceiling.

’I am very proud to be featured in this list, alongside my UK colleagues, and our collective inclusion reflects just how seriously HSBC takes its responsibility to encourage and create an environment for women to succeed in business.’

Tracy gave an exclusive interview to the Independent’s sister paper the Examiner last month in which she said that ’sadly’ she knows of ’plenty’ of other women in business who have encountered problems such as sexist attitudes.

But Tracy stressed: ’I have personally never experienced any negativity about the fact I am a woman.’

She became chief executive officer for HSBC’s operations in the Isle of Man and the Channel Island last February.

Before that, Tracy was CEO of First Direct, the pioneering UK-based 24-hour telephone retail bank.

Tracy said she was proud to say HSBC was committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. She also confirmed banking giant HSBC is committed to the Isle of Man and its 187 staff here.