Sara Pantaleo, CEO of Italian restaurant franchise La Porchetta, has been named as a finalist in the 2012 Telstra Victorian Business Women’s Awards.

The awards recognise outstanding women who are leaders, innovators and mentors in their industry. Sara Pantaleo was nominated by one of her senior managers and she is one of only five finalists in the Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award category.

“I’m delighted and thrilled,” said Sara Pantaleo.  “Responding to the submission questions required me to reflect deeply on my career and the growth of La Porchetta since I joined the company in 1996. That was a very valuable process in itself and it reinforced my conviction that this is an extraordinary business.”

Pantaleo was promoted to national manager of La Porchetta in 1998 and has been CEO since 2005. She has been responsible for transforming the company from a family business of 12 restaurants into an international franchise with more than 70 sites across Australia and New Zealand.

The focus has been on developing and implementing a robust corporate framework to drive growth.

Pantaleo is vice-president of the Victorian chapter of the Franchise Council of Australia, a member of the CEO Group, and actively involved in the sector as a speaker and mentor.  She was named national Franchise Woman of the Year in 2010.

• See more about the awards here.