Top Welsh business awards launch

Business leaders across Wales are being invited to enter the IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards 2015.

The awards have become an established highlight on the Welsh business calendar and celebrate business achievements across Wales while bringing all sectors of the business community together, irrespective of size, region or age.

Nine finalists from the 2014 Awards were shortlisted for the UK National Awards, with Welsh winner SuperStars’ James Taylor named overall UK Director of the Year 2014 as well as Young Director of the Year.

Deadline for nominations is February 27th and March 20th for entries, with winners announced at the awards lunch on Friday, May 15th at Cardiff’s SWALEC Stadium.

Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Director of Institute of Directors in Wales said: “The search is now on for our 2015 winners and we are always impressed with the volume and level of entries from directors who demonstrate inspired business leadership.

“We would like to invite you to apply or indeed nominate a director in your organisation or from your business network. The awards praise business achievements across Wales and the calibre of our winners over the last five years has been outstanding. We celebrate those who are able to adapt and grow and for those who take the calculated risks and push the boundaries.

“I am also delighted that Cardiff Business School has chosen to continue as our headline sponsor, especially as I’m an alumnus of the School. Thank you to Professor Kitchener for his continued support.”

James Taylor, Founder & Group Executive of SuperStars was winner of the Talent & Innovation Award at IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards 2014 and was named both Young Director of the Year and Overall Director of the Year at last year’s IoD UK Awards. He said: “I was completely overwhelmed at winning the overall Director of the Year Award at the IoD UK national finals in London. I was up against directors of huge companies, based all over the UK, so I was shocked but absolutely ecstatic. We’re a nation of thriving and innovative businesses so I’m proud to help put Wales on the map through the award win.”

Cardiff Business School is headline sponsor of the event this year, where categories include: Director in a Medium/Large Business – sponsored by Lloyds Bank; Young Director of the Year; Director in a Small Business; Director in a Social Enterprise or Charity sponsored by Legal & General; Director in the Public Sector sponsored by Academi Wales; Director in a Family Business sponsored by Leadership & Management Wales; Director for Leadership in Corporate Responsibility; Talent & Innovation Award sponsored by ACCA; Chairman’s Award sponsored by headline sponsors Cardiff Business School.

Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School said: “We are delighted to once again be the headline sponsor for the IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards. As the Dean of Cardiff Business School, the Welsh centre of excellence for business and management education, I am committed to ensuring that we continue to contribute to the Welsh economy and to its knowledge economy.

“We want to continue and to extend the contact that we have with the business leaders in Wales, sharing the knowledge that we create. We were delighted with the calibre of last year’s IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards and would like to wish all nominees every success.