Global CEO Excellence 2017
globalceoexcellence
2017awards
Business Services CEO of the Year & Best SME Administration & Support Provider Hawaii g We invited CEO and Founder Matthew Delaney to share the secrets behind the success of one of the Asia Pacific region’s fastest growing companies. Also in this issue:
Distribution Grid CEO of the Year & Best Smart Grid Solutions Provider - North America
Best Real Estate CEO 2017 - South Africa
Tourism Promotion CEO of the Year & Excellence Award for Sales & Marketing Management - UAE
Welcome to the Global CEO Awards Contents: 4. Distribution Grid CEO of the Year & Best Smart Grid Solutions Provider - North America - Tantalus
27. Best Public Relations Business Leader 2017 – London- The Cult
8. Business Investment CEO of the Year 2017 – China & Innovation Award for Financial Outsourcing 2017Bexuco Limited
28. 2017 Global CEO Excellence Awards winners’ magazine for Best International Trade & Development CEO & Excellence Award for International Recruitment Services – Canada- Québec International
9. Logistics CEO of the Year & Best for Global Multimodal Transport Operations - UAE- ECU Worldwide 10. Business Services CEO of the Year & Best SME Administration & Support Provider - Hawaii- The Hawaii Group, Inc. 14. Best Animal Welfare Organisation CEO 2017 Washington D.C. Metro Area- American Humane 16. Medical Research CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Stem Cell Technology R&D Company - India- Advancells 20. Biotechnology CEO of the Year & Most Innovative Biotech Company – Europe- BioLingus 20. Gaming Software CEO of the Year 2017 - UKBettorlogic 21. Steel Industry CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Steel Manufacturing Company - Canada- Essar Steel Algoma Inc. 21. Best Property Development Company CEO - IndiaOzone Group 22. Technology CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Logistics Management Service Provider - Global- nVision Global 26. The Compassionate CEO- 2017 Australian Retirement Services & Best Elderly Care Provider New South Wales- Maroba 26. Best Business Intelligence Company CEO 2017 & Professional Network Management Firm of the Year UK- Winmark 27. Best Immigration Support CEO 2017 – Maryland & Refugee Service Provider of the Year - Maryland- The Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service
30. Best Enterprise Software Company CEO 2017 – North- Central USA & Most Innovative Business Management Software Provider- Cincom 32. Best Real Estate CEO 2017 - South Africa- Rebosis Property Fund Limited 36. Best Music Industry Advocacy CEO - CanadaSOCAN 37. Communications & Media CEO of the Year 2017 Central America- Publicis Media 38. Resin Manufacturing CEO of the Year – MalaysiaAsta Chemicals 40 . Best Oil & Gas CEO 2017 - Canada- Blue Spark Energy 41 . Electronics Company CEO of the Year 2017 Electrocomponents 42 . Best HR Management CEO - India- AscentHR 42 . UK’s Leading Executive Search CEO- NJF 43. Tourism Promotion CEO of the Year - UAE - The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) 47 .Alternative Energy CEO of the Year – Europe & Best Wind Energy Company - Europe - The Gemini offshore wind park
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Distribution Grid CEO of the Year & Best Smart Grid Solutions Provider - North America
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Distribution Grid CEO of the Year & Best Smart Grid Solutions Provider North America Tantalus provides a multi-purpose Smart Grid solution to the Utility industry which integrates advanced metering, load management, distribution automation and grid optimization through a high-speed, low-latency communications network. We caught up with CEO Peter Londa to find out more about the firm and the innovative solutions it offers. Founded in 1989, Tantalus focuses on improving the operating efficiency and reliability of the distribution grid for electric, water and gas utilities across North American and the Caribbean Basin. Tantalus’ roots are in the command and control of data across communication networks. The company deployed its first Advanced Metering Infrastructure (“AMI”) network in 1999 utilizing long-range wireless radio frequencies (“RF”) in support of rural utilities. Since deploying its first system, the company’s core competencies now center on a solution which delivers computing capability at the edge of the distribution grid and data analytics. Peter provides a fascinating history of the firm’s evolution and how it came to achieve its current position as a thought-leader and pioneer in this vital industry. “Our firm is migrating from being considered a solid provider of wireless communications networks for electric utilities into a market leader in edge computing and data analytics, benefitting utilities with electric, water and gas commodities. As part of our evolution, we delivered our next-generation Linux-based utility grid edge
computing platform in 2013 which was ahead of the market. While other vendors remained focused on simply capturing basic metering data, Tantalus was deploying a system capable of supporting real-time applications beyond traditional AMI.”
results of our planning and execution are evidenced through the rapid growth and expansion of our customer base, which more than doubled since 2014 from 57 utilities to over 125 utilities across North America and the Caribbean Basin.”
“As a smaller organization, we faced the challenge of delivering a next-generation solution ahead of the immediate market needs and before mass adoption of communication networks capable of supporting integrated applications beyond core AMI functionality.” This challenge can bring any emerging technology company to its knees, regardless of the industry. “In joining the management team just as Tantalus’ next-generation platform was being delivered commercially, we quickly pivoted from being an engineeringled team to a market-driven business.”
DESCRIPTION OF TECHNOLOGY Tantalus’ Smart Grid platform, the Tantalus Utility Network (“TUNet®”), includes a wireless communication network, powerful edge computing communication modules integrated onto meters and distribution sensors, as well as software and services. The system connects the entire distribution grid, providing the utility visibility to the edge and enabling it to gather granular data to achieve a new level of operational control and customer service. Peter is keen to emphasize the importance of this vital solution and how it helps the firm achieve its overall mission.
“By making this important pivot to a market-driven business, our team successfully converted this challenge into an opportunity to define our solution and educate our target market on the importance of deploying a solution that meets immediate needs while simultaneously delivering future value. The
“TUNet delivers a true industrial Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) platform for electric, water and gas utilities to gather granular data – defined as interval power data delivered on the next interval – from a community of networked smart grid devices. Gathering and accessing interval power data on the next interval empowers a
utility to make true, data-driven decisions impacting power quality and operating efficiency whereas relying on competing solutions delivering batched data every 6, 8 or even 24 hours is only adequate to support basic metering and AMI tasks. “Relying on batched data delivered over extended periods of time is no longer acceptable to forwardthinking utilities. Instead, the delivery of interval data on the next interval is critical to support time-sensitive decisions which truly optimize power flows and minimize outages.” More specifically, analytic engines with access to granular data are able to more effectively pinpoint electric voltage issues and power outages as well as leak detection in the water distribution network. Visibility into momentary power outages enables a utility to proactively investigate and remedy the causes preventing actual outage incidents and avoiding impacts to the utility’s customers. From a communication network perspective, TUNet is designed to maximize capacity and minimize latency to deliver the right data at the right time. TUNet is based on intelligent endpoints pushing granular data to the utility. This TRUPush™
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Distribution Grid CEO of the Year & Best Smart Grid Solutions Provider - North America
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technology, coupled with a unique channel management design that provides extremely efficient Local Area Networks (“LAN’s”), allows Tantalus to allocate approximately 75% of the communication network to support “Beyond AMI” applications such as streetlight control or even new Industrial IoT communication protocols, as they gain market adoption. To enable edge computing functionality, every TUNet device has been designed as a micro-computer deployed at the edge of the grid. Each device contains a Linux-based computing platform with a powerful ASIC that includes 5 coprocessors, an abundance of RAM & flash memory and a software configurable radio. TUNet devices are capable of supporting multiple protocols, processing data analytics and applications at the edge of the network and simultaneously working collectively as a community with other devices. TUNet’s design is centered on utility flexibility and choice. The combination of powerful endpoints, a flexible communication network, and remote upgrades via overthe-air programming provides utilities with more options. By leveraging over-the-air programming, Tantalus can
remotely change the protocol of a communication module to support new applications. An example of this capability can be seen through Tantalus’ ability to help many utilities migrate from one-way metering technology such as Encoded Receiver Transmitters (“ERTs”) towards a future-ready smart grid platform at a fraction of the time and cost of an immediate full meter replacement. Utilities deploying TUNet today can continue to expand their smart grid strategies to incorporate additional applications such as load control, networked LED street light control, distribution automation device control, video surveillance and consumer engaging systems – all on a single communications network. The right smart grid platform can also deliver a host of benefits to consumers, including residential, commercial and industrial, through online portals and applications. Quick and easy access to granular consumption data helps consumers understand and adapt energy usage habits, save money and reduce their carbon foot print. For C&I customers, providing visibility to consumption, power quality or price signals delivers quantifiable value for businesses to make informed decisions with respect to their core operations. Utilities and cities can use their smart grid platforms to attract new industries and businesses to establish or expand operations which support job growth and economic development. “We are quickly developing into a data-driven society with ‘on-demand’ expectations. Millennials will only accelerate this shift in consumer behavior and buying patterns. Power providers are not immune to these changes in consumer expectations and must begin to proactively provide consumer portals, reliable service and pro-active customer support. As an organization, we prioritize our R&D on delivering cutting edge technology capable of supporting
utilities to resolve these current and future changes and are positioning our customers to be future-ready.” LEADERSHIP Alongside the innovative nature of the firm’s solutions, Peter’s leadership is central to the firm’s continued success. Peter is a seasoned smart grid technology executive and serves as Tantalus’ President and CEO. Prior to joining Tantalus in 2014, he served as CEO of BPL Global, Ltd. (“BPLG”), a leading smart grid company focused on online transformer monitoring and direct load control for the electric utility industry with operations in the United States, Europe, Middle East, India, and China. While there, he was responsible for managing all aspects of corporate strategy, operations, engineering, business development, and finance. In 2013, Peter was instrumental in executing the sale of BPLG to a division of the Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR). In addition to previously serving as an independent Chairman of World Energy Solutions, Inc, (XWES), Peter held various roles in the software and investment banking industries at companies including The Chart Group, L.P., Thoughtworks, Inc., and SG Cowen. Peter received multiple degrees from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia including a JD, MBA and B.A. Starting in 2004, Peter developed a passion to support the transformation of electric utility business processes, some of which dated back to the early 1900’s, through technology adoption. In pursuing his passion to leverage technology to improve the reliability and efficiency of power providers, Peter believes the key to success is understanding the needs of customers and building an exceptional leadership team that possesses an unwavering commitment to success. “Our team’s success is predicated on our customer’s success, so exceeding their expectations is critical, both in
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terms of deploying our solution and expanding our product portfolio.” In terms of deploying and improving Tantalus’ solution, the company invests heavily in its people, processes and tools to support customers throughout the entire life-cycle. From a people perspective, Tantalus starts with a detailed recruiting process. Once employed, Tantalus team members are encouraged to participate in robust training programs to improve their own skill sets, professionally and personally. “We are committed to continual process improvement in all facets of our operations. Our entire team evaluates our processes across all departments with a goal of continuing to improve our collective performance.” Tantalus is also investing in tools to gain operating leverage across the organization and support a TUNet User Community where customers are empowered to access and share information with our team and with other Users. “Tantalus regularly engages with its User Community to gain insights, feedback and ideas to improve our solution and expand our product offering.” Tantalus also utilizes Customer Advisory Committees and an annual Tantalus Users Conference to gather constructive feedback, share knowledge, and help prioritize R&D efforts. “By creating a continual feed-back loop with customers, Tantalus can efficiently allocate our R&D resources to ensure we are delivering products that meet the needs of our customers while also enhancing the differentiation of our system relative to our competition.” In addition to being customerfocused, Tantalus also facilitates a collaborative working environment ensuring that employees are engaged and motivated to undertake their roles and responsibilities, as Peter is eager to highlight. “We are team-oriented and continuously reinforce critical concepts to ensure the organization is aligned towards achieving the goals and
objectives of our company. Our leadership team benefits from a dynamic corporate culture based on hard work, respect, cooperation, and customer focus.” Direct, open and frequent communication is a key tenant within Tantalus. “By ensuring our team understands the primary components of our corporate plan - and is actively involved in the planning behind those plans - executives, managers and employees are all able to work quickly, autonomously and with accountability to further the realization of our goals and objectives.” STRATEGIC OUTLOOK “From a strategic perspective, Tantalus’ objective is to become a leading technology partner to the utility industry. We are one of the few smart grid companies today that is truly equipped to harness the value from an increasing volume of data extracted from the distribution grid. This strategy will help ensure that our customers are ready to adapt quickly and cost-effectively to shifting market trends, proactively engage with their consumers and improve the operating reliability and efficiencies of their distribution grids”, as Peter concludes. The utility industry is witnessing material changes and threats to the traditional business model due to increased consumer expectations, the introduction of disruptive technology from some of the largest technology companies in the world and aging infrastructure. “Tantalus is passionate about improving the performance, reliability and sustainability of utilities which are, and will continue to be, critical in delivering power and water (two of the most important commodities in our world) to the communities where we live and work.” Company: Tantalus Contact: Peter Londa Contact Email: plonda@tantalus.com Address: 1130 Situs Court, Suite 230, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA Phone: 001 917 593 6574 Website: tantalus.com/
Business Investment CEO of the Year 2017 – China & Innovation Award for Financial Outsourcing 2017 Bexuco Limited is a global M&A provider based in China. We spoke to CEO Patrick Becker to find out more about his role in the firm’s success. Over the past 10 years, under the leadership of CEO Patrick Becker, Bexuco has rapidly established itself as the major cross border M&A Company in China, with its highly professional employees and thrive to provide the best consultancy and M&A services to its clients. He explains the firm has worked alongside clients to support them and provide a truly global reach. “In order to further increase our global presence, we are pleased to announce that Bexuco has now become the biggest M&A service provider in Asia. With over 1000 Asian M&A consultants and 100 deals closed per year scattered across the Asian region, we are able to offer clients our vast expertise in Asian mergers and acquisitions and be able to continue offering you access to China, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, as well as access to Japan, the most technological established nation in Asia. In addition, we will have offices established in the most influential cities in the Asian and SEA regions.” With regards to his personal career, Patrick is keen to outline how he rose to become the CEO of such a thriving global company. “Having a German and French background I studied international business and economics in both France and Germany. Throughout my career i have overseen
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many international projects representing companies such as Ford, Peugeot, Total and Elf as Sales & Marketing Director, Vice President European Operations, General Manager Asia-Pacific. “Due to the strong reputation I created throughout my years in both Europe and Asia I was brought to China on a number of contracts which involved developing business strategies and offering investment advice for a number of high profile Chinese clients. Through many referrals and the demand in China I was encouraged to create Bexuco to offer my advice as a seasoned professional in both Chinese and European markets.” Overall, the global M&A market continues to be very active and is set to continue this trend into the next year, and as such Patrick and his team at Bexuco have a number of plans to capitalise on this, as he proudly concludes. “Currently we are closing a number deals of very special Hi-Tech companies, this will consolidate our strong position and help us to grow further internationally. We intend to continue our expansion internationally with the intention of becoming a fully international group with official offices across the world.” Contact Email: becker@bexuco.com Address: 9/F, Unit 907, Building 1, No.18 Fangsi Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, 201606, P.R. China Phone: +86 21 33552128
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Logistics CEO of the Year & Best for Global Multimodal Transport Operations - UAE ECU Worldwide is a global NVOCC leader with more than 300 offices in over 160 countries. CEO Shantha Martin talks us through the secrets behind the firm’s success. Founded in 1987 at Belgium, ECU Worldwide is a global leader in NVOCC services, the firm is the outcome of the marriage of two great stories Allcargo Logistics Ltd. and ECU – Line. Shantha outlines how the two firms came to merge and how this has led the firm to be the leader it is today. “ECU Worldwide is the outcome of the marriage of two great stories Allcargo Logistics Ltd. And ECU – Line. ECU Line was a Belgian company founded in 1987, its strength was its global reach in terms of NVOCC services, apart from its rich legacy and agility. Incorporated in 1993, Allcargo Logistics Ltd. began emerging as India’s largest integrated logistics solutions provider in private sector. “In 2006, as a result of a long standing partnership, the two companies merged through the process of acquisition wherein Allcargo acquired 100% stake in ECU Line which resulted in a synergistic entity, which would catapult our operations, into the orbit of global reckoning. This entity was later rechristened to ECU Worldwide. Today, led by a strong management team under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Shashi Kiran Shetty Chairman Allcargo Logistics Ltd, we have a global presence, offering LCL and FCL services across the globe. Our wide variety of value added services and outsourcing solutions make
us exceptionally competent in handling and transporting complex cargo to anywhere in the world, seamlessly.” Shantha herself joined the firm 15 years ago, and has been working to help it grow and prosper ever since, as she explains.
Contact Email: Ceo.officemed@ecuworldwide.com Web Address: www.ecuworldwide.com
“Personally, I joined Allcargo Logistics Ltd. In 2003 as the National Import Manager. At that point of time Allcargo was an SME in the logistics sector, a sector which was pretty much unorganized; notwithstanding this and despite it being nascent, it held great promise. Thereon I grew in ranks from GM, VP to CEO in the year 2009, heading the regions of Indian Subcontinent and Middle East. Thereon the regions under me expanded and I continue to learn and grow and share my knowledge with my team to this very day.” Looking ahead, the firm is keen to continue expanding globally, as Shantha is proud to conclude. “Moving forward, ECU Worldwide will continue to endeavor to bring geographies closer through our system efficiency and superior expertise for our customers, thus etching the philosophy of ‘Geography Simplified’, in the minds of our clients. We hope to move forward towards consolidating our brand, by virtue of having a repertoire of satisfied customers as our Brand Ambassadors across the globe.”
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Business Services CEO of the Year & Best SME Administration & Support Provider - Hawaii Photo Credit: Joss
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Business Services CEO of the Year & Best SME Administration & Support Provider - Hawaii The Hawaii Group, Inc. (HiGroup) is one of the Asia Pacific region’s fastest growing companies, offering a wide range of business services. We invited CEO and Founder Matthew Delaney to share the secrets behind its success. Founded in 2009 by Matthew Delaney, a proven leader with prior experience in accounting, travel and tourism, and real estate development, HiHR was the first company to fill a niche in HR outsourcing that tailors its services to the needs of customers instead of prescribing predetemined, often bloated, package service offerings. The business grew exponentially and its clients asked for other business services such as accounting, staffing, recruiting, marketing and advisory. Thus, the HiGroup family of companies quickly grew to also include Hawaii Accounting, LLC. (HiAccounting), Hawaii Employment Services, Inc. (HiEmployment), Hawaii Health Care, Inc. (HiHealthCare, HiHomeCare, HiNursing) and Hawaii Marketing, Inc. (HiMRK). The company grew in 2016 to over $200 million in revenues, servicing over 1,000 clients, employing 150 internal employees and over 10,000 external employees. Simplicity and honesty set the HiGroup apart in the business outsourcing arena, though they never bundle services under the guise of simplification. They believe that the smartest solution allows clients to pay for exactly the mix of services appropriate for them. Delaney outlines the firm’s core focus and how it
works to achieve excellence for every client it works with. “The Hawaii Group has been unwaveringly committed to providing our clients with customized solutions no matter their industry and needs. With an organizational commitment to transparency and integrity, it is core to our value that our proposals are fair and equitable, providing a clear benefit to our clients and our team. The best way to ensure both parties are on the same page is to effectively communicate the needs of the clients and the services that will be provided and clearly delineate who is responsible for which various functions. Our ultimate goal is to exceed our client’s expectations -- it is vital for our clients to look at us as their partner in business and in the boardroom – as an ally, sounding board, and partner in providing value-added outsourced business services.” To ensure this level of excellence at all times, Delaney strongly believes that his business will only continue to prosper if the families of those involved are helped to thrive- financially, physically and emotionally. He promised his employees that “family comes first” and he has delivered on that promise. HiGroup’s office is a familyfriendly environment where children are welcome and flexible hours allow parents to fulfil
their personal responsibilities. HiGroup helps its staff balance work and family obligations.” HiGroup also encourages a flexible work schedule to accommodate commuting and childcare demands. Since its inception in 2009, HiGroup also has provided a catered lunch, snacks, and drinks on a regular basis for its entire staff. This saves employees’ money and time, and represents a significant investment in the team culture at HiGroup. In an effort to support its clients, HiGroup orders these lunches from our existing clients. These reciprocal gestures lead to a healthier and happier workforce, both in and out of the office. HiGroup’s relaxed work environment promotes creativity and efficiency by providing outlets for the staff to bond and collaborate. HiGroup’s primary goals are to provide an enthusiastic work environment that allows for constant learning, career growth, and a healthy lifestyle. HiGroup also supports its employees by paying for advanced education, licensing, and industry organization memberships. It accommodates these pursuits — or other family emergencies — with flexible work arrangements, as Delaney is keen to highlight. “With regards to our internal culture, I believe in motivating team members by empowering
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Business Services CEO of the Year & Best SME Administration & Support Provider - Hawaii
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them to understand our ultimate objectives and goals to carry out our various company missions. The more transparent and inclusive we can be, the more comfortable they are working and putting in the extra effort to help exceed clients’ expectations.” “As such, I aim to offer an extremely fun, relaxed, and family friendly work environment and culture. I truly believe in investing into our team members, which will pay dividends in the future. We are strong advocates for providing continued training and education to all of our team members at the company’s expense.” “It is also my job as CEO to continually provide opportunities for our team members to grow, advance their careers, provide them alternative disciplines to work in, and to continue learning every day. If I do not, our valued team members will go search out other work opportunities that are more challenging and rewarding. I personally try and learn something new every day, and with my open door policy and inclusive approach, I inevitably achieve this goal simply through interaction with our own internal team.”
Company: The Hawaii Group Contact: Matthew S. Delaney Contact Email: MDelaney@thehawaiigroup.com Address: Topa Financial Center, 745 Fort Street, Suite 116, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA Phone: 001 808 398 6288 Website: thehawaiigroup.com/
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By recognizing the individuality of every organization and building custom solutions for each, HiGroup’s companies help small-to-medium sized businesses save thousands of dollars. From accounting to taxes, and consulting to staffing and recruiting, HiGroup offers everything companies need. Each of our companies first learns about clients’ enterprises, and then listens to specific requirements. Only after developing this understanding will HiGroup customize services. With reasonable prices, no hidden costs, and no long-term contracts, this protocol allows clients to focus on their core purpose. Chief Executive Officer, Matthew S. Delaney, has been a catalyst for positive change in both community and business across Hawaii for much of the past two decades. Most recently,
Mr. Delaney has leveraged his experience gained locally and abroad to help revolutionize the state’s outsourcing landscape. Under his progressive, flexible, and innovative leadership, The Hawaii Group companies, HiAccounting, HiEmployment, HiHealthcare, and formerly HiHR, have all skyrocketed to the top of Hawaii’s outsourcing marketplace, all repeatedly garnering accolades and awards for their business performance, customer service, and high levels of employee satisfaction. Delaney outlines his approach to working with any client or employee to ensure that they always get the very most out of the interaction. “With every new interaction, professionally or personally, my approach is to try to be a great listener right from the start. The more I am able to listen and establish a clear understanding of the perspective, challenges, and opportunities that clients face, the more effectively I am able to evolve respectful and informed insight. With that insight, we are able to appropriately suggest services and solutions that help our clients improve their businesses’ efficiency (and profitability) and relieve the back office work which will allow the client to focus on their core business.” Over the past 23 years Delaney held executive positions for various local, national and international businesses. He has 20 years of experience with business process outsourcing and was involved with the sale of ProService Hawaii to a group of mainland investors in 2005. Fast forward 11 years, Delaney sold the first subsidiary of HiGroup, HiHR (HR outsourcing) to ProService Hawaii in 2016. Prior to his role at HiGroup, Matt was the Development Manager for the Royal Lahaina Development Group, LLC, spearheading the three-hundred and eightymilliondollar master plan for the new mixed-used Kaanapali resort consisting of a new 333-room hotel tower and 126 new luxury Residential Villas, along with new restaurants, spa, gym,
general store, parking structure, lobby, water features and all new infrastructure. Additionally, Mr. Delaney served as CEO/ President of Marc Resorts, overseeing operation of 22 properties, 1,000 employees, and managing acquisitions and development in Hawaii and internationally for parent company Sunterra. Prior to his CEO role, Matt was part of Sunterra’s acquisition and development team - responsible for multiple resort and company acquisitions around the world, as well as forming a wholly owned Japanese subsidiary (Sunterra Japan). He was also instrumental in forming the DaVinci real estate fund in Tokyo, Japan, which has invested over $2 billion in commercial office and mixed-use buildings. Prior to joining Marc/ Sunterra, Delaney was a Senior Consultant and CPA for E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group. Delaney has served as the Chairman of Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, on the Board of Trustees at Queen Emma Land Company, and on the Board of Advisors at Hawaii Pacific University Travel Industry Management. Mr. Delaney also served on the board of directors for Special Olympics Hawaii as well serving as a member of the Finance and Admissions & Membership Committees at Outrigger Canoe Club. He holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License from State of California and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He received two degrees: a Bachelors of Science in Accounting, and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship from University of Southern California. Drawing on this vast industry experience, Delaney has a strong overview of the market, and is keen to share his views on recent developments.
of what type of service: staffing, recruiting, HR, payroll, accounting, taxes, consulting, information technology, business processes, advisory work, etc., these are all functions that can be outsourced or “partnered” with others to help businesses grow, run more efficiently and provide value added services. Offloading these responsibilities to a third party ultimately relieves business owners’ anxiety and overhead and allows them to focus on their core business. As unemployment grows or shrinks in various parts of the country, the staffing and recruiting services complement each other well.” “With regards to accounting, tax, advisory and other financial services, the future of Tax Reform will only make it more effective for clients to partner up with a great partner to help them navigate through all of the anticipated tax law changes, which will affect every single business in a wide variety of ways. It is essential that clients plan ahead for these tax law changes in order to best guide their business through this evolving situation.” “In addition, I also firmly believe that we need to keep as many jobs local and in the communities we are working in. It is one thing for a client to outsource a function, it is another thing for the outsourcing to be off-shored to a foreign country. It is my belief that we need to employ our own citizens and people in the communities we live rather than employing staff in other
countries merely to reduce expenses to earn a higher profit. Long term it is critical to have real relationships with your clients, and I believe these bonds will help business partnerships survive challenges due to shifts in the global economic or political landscape.” Overall, Delaney is a big believer in constantly learning and gaining new skills, and his advice to anyone looking to emulate his success is to always seek out new opportunities, as he proudly explains in his concluding comments. “My advice to anyone looking to succeed in business is to work as hard as you can while you are young before you begin a family and have additional responsibilities to care for. They should volunteer in the community you live in and give back. They should not ask for the business on your first encounter. Build a relationship and the business will come later down the road once you are a trusted person. Ultimately, you want to ask for more responsibility, so that you can learn as much as possible, absorbing every bit of insight and inspiration.
“Personally, with regards to the industry as a whole, I firmly believe that business process outsourcing (BPO) will continue to grow at incredibly high rates for the next decade. Regardless
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Best Animal Welfare Organisation CEO 2017 - Washington D.C. Metro Area
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Best Animal Welfare Organisation CEO 2017 Washington D.C. Metro Area American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals. President & Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robin Ganzert, discusses her passion for animals and how this has driven her to work tirelessly to ensure their safety and well-being. American Humane is the United States’ first national humane organization and now oversees the protection of some 1 billion animals each year in communities, filmed entertainment, on farms and ranches, in disaster zones, and at zoos and aquariums around the world. Robin discusses her passion for supporting animals and how this drives her in her current role. “You cannot protect what you don’t love, and you cannot love what you don’t know. In today’s times, many of us are removed from animals in our daily lives. My goal has been to use my skills to make a measurable difference for the world’s animals who enrich our lives and our world, ensuring that all species are around for future generations to protect and love. By working to integrate science and sentiment, ‘smart’ as well as ‘heart’ into everything we do, using best management and leadership practices, American Humane has expanded the delivery of direct services to the most vulnerable by nearly 1,000 percent in just seven years. We currently have the highest cost ratio of any national humane organization, with 91.5 cents out of every dollar raised going directly into programs.” With new challenges and project opportunities arising frequently, Robin and her team at American
Humane utilize a thorough process to evaluate and prioritize each undertaking, which she is keen to highlight. “Each time we consider taking on a new humane challenge, we consider first whether the effort is truly innovative and non-duplicative, and then determine whether we can make a significant difference in a measurable timeframe using the resources we have. To ensure the strongest possible program, we work collaboratively with independent scientists and other experts, who add many years of experience, provide additional perspective and leverage the valuable knowledge of our own in-house specialists. As the program grows, we carefully track metrics and outcomes, which shape the evolution of the work to maximize the humane ROI.”
For those looking to succeed in the vital non-profit space, Robin is eager to emphasise the qualities which are essential to driving innovation and change. “Ultimately, flexibility, speed and adaptability are key to the success of non-profits today. But perhaps even more important is loving what you do, as it is truly the key to success in life and in work.”
Company: American Humane Contact: Dr. Robin Ganzert Contact Email: robing@AmericanHumane.org Address: 1400 16th Street NW Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036, USA Phone: 001 800 227 4645 Web Address: www.AmericanHumane.org
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Medical Research CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Stem Cell Technology R&D Company - India
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Medical Research CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Stem Cell Technology R&D Company - India Advancells is a research oriented company focused on the use of regenerative medicine for therapeutic purposes. We invited CEO Vipul Jain to share the secrets behind the firm’s phenomenal success and the role he has played in achieving it. Advancells are passionate about the almost unlimited potential of human stem cells in repairing, regenerating and rejuvenating the human body, helping to rid it of any kind of disease or trauma without the need of surgery or medication. Stem Cells have the potential to treat the body naturally and as such, Advancells are focused on bringing this science to the masses across the world. Vipul, who founded the firm three years ago, outlines his background and how he draws on this to achieve success for his business. “Personally, I have extensive experience in health care marketing. I co-founded one of world’s first and largest medical tourism companies in 2005. Being associated with healthcare I started to read and understand about stem cells and saw it as the future of modern medicine. Rarely there comes a time in a man’s life when he is able to see and predict the future and I believe that time came for me when I understood the potential of stem cells. I decided to go head on into the field and founded Advancells. I have been the founder CEO for 3 years now and believe that our journey has just started.
“Overall, I see myself as a guardian of the company but try to keep myself out of the day to day working of the company. I believe in empowering the employees and then letting them take their own decisions. I believe in setting up targets and goals with consultation of the employees, and then not to meddle in their working. I am extremely approachable and welcome employees to discuss problems and issues of any nature freely with me but I do not like to be a police man who would stand on their heads to see how they are working. I believe only a liberated mind can think of the best way to move forward and extreme and consistent supervision will only create robots and not visionaries.” Vipul is keen to outline the firm’s work and how it is dedicated to providing the very highest standards of support to those it supports. “At Advancells, our business modal is both B2B and B2C. Ideally speaking we are a B2B business as we only prepare cells that are used for therapies by our partner hospitals and doctors, but since this is such a new and niche area, we get a lot of direct patient requests on a daily basis from people
who are seeking help. Thus, our marketing currently involves both B2B modal where we reach out to doctors and hospitals and train and educate them and also B2C modal where we do digital marketing to spread the message. Social media is one of our top marketing tools. We utilize the reach of social channels effectively to reach out to more and more consumers and give them education about existence of options in situations where it seems that there is no alternative left. “Transparency is the key for us as an organization. Whenever we take a new patient, we are brutally transparent and honest with them to an extent that many times the patients start to rethink their decision. Very early on in our journey we decided that we will not give out false hope to any one considering our therapy. We will be upfront and honest with them and let them make an informed decision. We stick by this rule and that is why we do not have any unsatisfied patient in past 3 years. We make sure that the patient gets correct and documented information both before the procedure and after the procedure and we make sure that we deliver on what we have promised. There is no grey area in medicine and thus pre procedure counselling has
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Medical Research CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Stem Cell Technology R&D Company - India
to be spot on. We take pride in the way we handle patients and their queries and make sure the patient is fully informed and counselled before they go ahead with the procedure.” As pioneers in this niche market, Advancells is shaping the industry and supporting people across the world, as Vipul is eager to highlight. “Stem Cell research is still in a nuance stage and commercialization still looks about a decade in future. As a result we are not only growing the industry but shaping the industry also. We feel that it is the responsibility of the few existing players to not just lay down the rules and boundaries but also give shape to the structure of the whole industry. We believe that the existing players should collaborate as much as possible and share and exchange information so that the industry can go at a rapid pace and every one can get its benefit. “Our biggest challenge is acceptance by conventional medical fraternity. They sometimes see us as threat, sometimes as competition and sometimes just ignore us. I believe that everyone has to be open minded to evaluate change and if worthy, to accept change. Our biggest opportunity is that people want options. They need solutions to problems for which they have no solution. Once the patients start getting more educated and demanding options, practitioners will have no other option but to align with us.” Looking to the future, Vipul is focused on growing the company in order to build upon its success and continue the vital work it undertakes, as he explains in his concluding comments. “Currently I am focused on making Advancells a global brand. We have many projects in the pipeline which involve spreading not only our marketing network globally but also creating or acquiring new technologies that might take shape globally. We are aggressive in expanding our technological reach and to make sure that we are able to
offer the best of regenerative medicine to our patients from anywhere in the world. “Going forward however, I would like to be known as a key opinion leader in this field and would love to work with non-profits and charities where I can contribute in making world a disease-free place.” Company: Advancells Contact: Vipul Jain Contact Email: vipul.jain@advancells.com Address: A-102, Block A, Sector 5, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201301, India Phone: 0091 96543 21400 Website: advancells.com/
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Biotechnology CEO Gaming Software of the Year & Most CEO of the Year Innovative Biotech 2017 - UK Company – Europe BioLingus is a Swiss biotech company spearheading the development of oral (sublingual) and mucosal delivery of peptides and proteins for chronic diseases and immune-therapies. We profile the firm to find out more about the vital work it undertakes. BioLingus is dedicated to developing a cuttingedge and mature solution for oral formulations of macromolecules. As more and more drugs are such biological macromolecules, which typically are injected, the need to have a non-invasive technology increases over time. BioLingus’s proprietary and break-through technology is derived from applied bioengineering, resulting in novel bio-mimetic materials. It is a cutting-edge and mature solution for oral formulations not only for peptides but also proteins, novel protein scaffolds, vaccines, immunotherapies, enzymes and also very hydrophobic small molecules. The major driver for the firm’s success is the consistent vision and persistent execution to transform the way macromolecules can be delivered. BioLingus’s long term vision is to be one of the very best companies for non-invasive delivery of biologicals. CEO Yves Decadt’s leadership style is informal and with a balance of being people and goal- and vision oriented. In a company such as BioLingus, it is important to work with senior people who have themselves a strong entrepreneurial drive, and want to excel in their work at a
global scale, and as such Yves’ role is mainly to nurture and stimulate this. Winning these awards will encourage the BioLingus team to keep developing the exciting technology and our transformational products. A second area of interest is immune-therapies, as sublingual administration allows for initiating the immune cascade in the buccal area and allows for targeting the lymphatic system directly. Overall, BioLingus’s long term goal is to become a midsize European Biotech company leading the way in non-invasive delivery of biologicals. The firm wants to become a fully integrated company, including the manufacturing and commercialisation of its products in selected countries and regions, and this will remain the firm’s ongoing focus as it looks towards a bright and exciting future. Website: www.biolingus.ch
Bettorlogic develop betting tools that set new standards in the quality of analysis available to the global on-line betting and media communities. CEO Andrew Dagnall tells us more about these innovative solutions. Bettorlogic licence unique content software, including Livelogic, in-play bet stimulation for mobile and platform, and Nextbet, which uses the Amazon recommendation principle but applied to betting. The firm also analyse customer betting behaviour to create profiles of players, and thus offer more personalised content which has additional value to CRM and marketing departments. Andrew discusses these creative products in more detail and explains how they offer clients the solutions they need. “As a software company, Bettorlogic are very appreciative of this award as the success of the company is based on the quality of our IT development. Bettorlogic develop software for the betting industry and does so with two objectives in mind. We licence our software to betting companies around the globe. This software creates reasons on their site or apps why customers might have a bet on an event or a particular market event. It is driven by statistical analysis of past results to help those who bet with their decision making process. For example, Man Utd are playing Liverpool and trailing by a goal with 60 minutes played. We generate a reason why somebody might bet on this match situation, the fact that when trailing after 60 minutes against teams like Liverpool, Man
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Utd have drawn seven of their last nine such matches. “In addition, we analyse the anonymous betting history of a client’s customers to create a profile based on their bet preferences and behaviour. This enables operators to communicate with customers on a personalised basis and we are currently developing a solution for a client whereby 100,000 customers can have 100,000 personalised displays on whatever device their customer is using.” Overall, operating in such a vital industry with an ever growing range of clients, Andrew believes that there is great scope for further growth and development of Bettorlogic. “Ultimately, I do believe as many powerful organisations do that we live in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world (VUCA). Therefore, agencies like the CIA, Pentagon and Homeland Security pay little heed to long term strategy because events change so rapidly. To achieve short term goals requires a non-pyramid management structure with committed and motivated staff. If you believe in the VUCA concept, then agility and responsibility creates opportunities, and as such we will be looking to apply these going forward to ensure Bettorlogic’s continued success.” Website: www.bettorlogic.com
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Steel Industry CEO of the Best Property Year 2017 & Best Steel Manufacturing Company Development Company CEO - India - Canada Essar Steel Algoma Inc. doing business as Algoma, is one of Canada’s largest fully integrated steel producers with a raw steel production capacity of approximately 2.8 million tons per year. Kalyan Ghosh tells us more.
Ozone Group is committed to providing you a higher quality of life and redefining standard of living through innovative real estate products. Mr. Srinivasan Gopalan, CEO, Ozone Group, tells us more about the firm and the services it offers.
Algoma derives its revenues primarily from the manufacture and sale of hot and cold rolled steel products including sheet and plate. Algoma has been a mainstay of the North American steel industry for more than 100 years. Algoma’s size and diverse capabilities enable the firm to deliver responsive, customer driven product solutions straight from the ladle to direct applications in the automotive, construction, energy, defense and manufacturing sectors. Kalyan discusses his role in the firm’s success so far.
At just 12 years old, Ozone Group is one of the youngest real estate organisations, as well as being one of the fastest growing real estate companies in South India. A large part of the firm’s portfolio is residential, and it is primarily focussed on the midmarket customer segment, most of whom are end-users, who include working professionals, businessmen and investors. Mr. Srinivasan Gopalan provides us with a fascinating overview of his previous experience and how he draws on this in his current role.
“Personally, I began my career in 1983, as a Graduate Engineer at Tata Steel, India, one of the world’s top steel manufacturers. Through a myriad of rightly timed rotations across operations, R&D and support roles I rose to become their Director of Strategic Sourcing. I then moved to lead the Supply Chain function for Reliance Industries, the largest private business house in India. In 2005 I joined Algoma as the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain for its Steel Business Group. I was appointed as the CEO of Essar Algoma Steel in 2012. “The credit for this journey up the ladder goes to persevering through and perceiving stretch as opportunities. I was also lucky to have leaders who spotted my potential, gave me the right exposures and the wings to fly beyond my boundaries.”
The past 18 months or so have been a particularly challenging one for Algoma as the company continues to undertake a Sale and Investment Solicitation Process under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), filed in November 2015. Looking ahead, Kalyan believes that the firm has a bright and exciting future ahead of it. “My plan moving forward is to restore and design a compelling future for Algoma. We will be a preferred supplier of steel in North America that is sustainable and reliable. We will achieve this through a relentless focus on safety, agility in meeting the evolving expectations of our customers and nurturing a culture of trust, respect and collaboration among all the stakeholders we serve.” Company Contact: Brenda Stenta Manager Corporate Communications Phone: +1.705.945.2209 E-mail: brenda.stenta@algoma.com
“Personally, I am a Chartered Account with over 20 years’ experience in Audit, Accounts, Treasury, Taxation, Fund Raising, besides Corporate Strategies & Policies, Business Development, Structuring Deals and Performance. “Throughout my career I have worked in different organizations such as Deloitte, Gharda Chemicals and ROW2 Technologies. I became a CEO with ROW2 Technologies, a Start-up, when I was just 31 years! My experience says that unless it is profitable for the organisation, there is no point in doing the business. My past experience as a CFO is huge advantage and gives me better insights for my role as a CEO. I am a strong believer in exhaustive research and meticulous planning. The plan or the project should take ideas
& inputs from all the managers involved, after the research findings come in. Once this is done, I am sure the outcome will be as per the plan and will meet customers’ expectations.” Looking to the future, growth and further expansion are in order for the group, as Mr. Srinivasan Gopalan proudly concludes. “Going forward, we are entering the Mumbai market, which is the biggest Real Estate market in India. My plans are to help create the same preference and awareness for Ozone Group in Mumbai, as we enjoy in South India. It is my dream to make Ozone Group be among the top 10 developers in India in the next 5 years, in terms of construction and delivery.”
Contact Email: info@ozonegroup.com Address: 38, Ulsoor Road, Bangalore, 560 042, India Phone: 080-25011800 Website: www.ozonegroup.com
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Technology CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Logistics Management Service Provider - Global
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Technology CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Logistics Management Service Provider - Global nVision Global specializes in providing global freight invoice audit & payment with best in class analytics delivering real time visibility and actionable transportation business intelligence. We spoke to CEO Luther Brown to find out more and explore the secrets behind its phenomenal success. “Established in September of 1992, nVision Global’s Transportation and logistics management solution— iMpact TMS allows users and companies to integrate their ERP with nVision Global and automatically create shipment orders, rate the orders against negotiated pricing tariffs, perform controlled spot bids on these shipments if necessary, retrieve management approval for the individual shipment, tender the shipment to the chosen Transportation Provider and ultimately have integrated visibility to the shipments movements from pickup to delivery. nVision Global even offers vendor integration allowing your vendors to determine when a product is ready to be shipped, providing a true end to end solution. Boasting facilities on four continents, superior technology, quality services and comprehensive business intelligence applications, the firm are not only the developer of innovative technology, but it also uses it every day to provide managed services. Renowned as a market leader in conferring Logistics Management Service, nVision Global’s iMpact TMS acts as a vital cog in the closed loop logistics procurement process.
The robust tool has unique Contract Management features and enables the stakeholders to choose the most cost-efficient chain for the shipment activity. Furthermore, to improve the monitoring of shipment tracking and availing real-time updates, the firm leverages iVisibility, a real-time monitoring portal. This product comes with high-shield overseeing competency for inbound and outbound transport activity, bills of ladings, purchase orders, and tendered shipments. CEO Luther Brown discusses the range of solutions the firm offers in more detail. “At nVision Global we offer a full line of integrated, supply chain technology and managed services and solutions designed to support the velocity required for today’s Global Supply Chain. Through our network of strategically placed full service locations, nVision Global partners with multi-national corporations seeking a single source solution to address the demands of their global supply chains. We provide configurable solutions based on individual customers and their desires for managed services, software services or a combination of both. We continue to build our network of tens of thousands of global multimodal transportation providers and customers managing millions of rate tables
that are utilized in tens of billions of dollars in transportation spend annually. nVision Global’s unique suite of tools provides these capabilities in a streamlined workflow that allows Supply Chain and Logistics Managers to have the control and visibility they need to optimize costs. “As part of this offering, the company has provision for taking care of damages and loss during transportation through its iClaim solution. It is an online claim module that allows the customer to streamline their company’s freight claim management. The iClaims functionality is a pre claim process it allows individual locations to begin a loss and damage claim which is immediately visible to the regional or corporate control for the company’s loss and damage claims process. This tool has helped many shippers and receivers to eliminate claims that were being denied as a result of being filed too late.” Operating in such a fast paced market, innovation and constant development are crucial to success. As such, the company’s initiative to modernize the traditional invoice audit and payment process is not new to the market. With an arsenal of competent analytics tools in its armory, the firm has consistently worked
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Technology CEO of the Year 2017 & Best Logistics Management Service Provider - Global
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to enhance the potency and cost-efficiency of Supply Chain Management. The firm’s myriad of solutions such as global reporting, mapping, graphing, benchmarking, modeling, and network optimization maps its client for unlocking new channels of efficiencies. An organizations’ success graph depends on the trust it builds among its customers. Keeping that in mind, nVision Global leverages best-in-market solutions to assist its clients. Addressing the same, Brown exclaims how nVision helped one of its clients to improve cost efficiencies through robotizing most of the fleet work. The client was facing intricacy due to its traditional structure of inventory which resulted in higher cost and outdated fleet management services. Working on granular insights of the existing structure, nVision Global mitigated the loopholes of the network and assisted them to robotize most of their services. “Our automated services improved the cost-efficiency of the client by nineteen percent. With routing compliance, we are further working to improve it by ten more percent,” Brown explains. Staff are also vital to the success of any firm, and as such Luther takes their development and support very seriously, as he explains. “To ensure excellence for our clients, nVision Global is empowering a broad base of front line staff to leverage this visibility through our response management tools; to take quick and effective action when faced with constant change, volatility in demand, supply, capacity and
product; and ultimately driving improved customer service, operational performance, supply chain efficiencies and reduced transportation expenses. As we embrace this evolution, we continue to build our network of tens of thousands of global multimodal transportation providers and customers managing millions of rate tables that are utilized in tens of billions of dollars in transportation spend annually.” Ultimately, with Brown as the visionary of the team, nVision Global has placed itself as a phase changer and market leader in delivering freight services and logistics management. Going ahead, the firm will be expanding its global footprint with a new operational center in Cluj Romania, as Brown proudly concludes. “Leveraging leading-edge technology has always been our core portfolio, and we intend to do the same in the coming years to constantly stand on our client needs. For more than 20 years nVision Global has been providing global technology based solutions and services for our customers and their logistics providers. We remain committed to working with Supply Chain Visionaries to develop solutions beyond the expectations of our customers and their partners. To see the state of the future supply chain and build longstanding partnerships based on strategic solutions for the constantly changing global landscape. We encourage our customers and their supply chain providers to share where they want to be, what they want to accomplish, and how we can best work together to get there. The end result of our joint collaboration efforts continues to be powerful solutions that provide enhanced detailed visibility and strong execution tools designed to address complex situations.”
Company: nVision Global Technology Solutions, Inc. Address: 1900 Brannan Road, Suite 300, McDonough, GA 30253 USA Phone: 001 770-474-4122 Website: nvisionglobal.com
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, The Compassionate CEO- 2017 Australian Retirement Services & Best Elderly Care Provider - New South Wales Maroba is a retirement facility based in New South Wales. CEO Viv Allanson discusses the vital work the firm undertakes and her role in driving it to excellence. Maroba was established in 1954 in an old maternity cottage in Mayfield offering 10 rooms for elderly widows and spinsters. In 1960 a parcel of land was granted in Waratah where Maroba has grown from its initial 10 beds to 155 aged care beds and 23 retirement Villas providing accommodation and care for seniors from all walks of life. Maroba continues to be operated by the Islington Baptist Church, proudly maintaining its independence as a truly local service. Viv outlines her role in the firm’s success and the plans she is putting in place to drive it to even higher standards. “Personally, I was promoted from the Executive Director of Nursing position to the position of CEO of Maroba in 2000. Whilst beginning my career in the Public Health sector in 1975 I have not looked back since making the move to Aged care in 1992. My qualifications are numerous including a Master of Health Management. “The focus now is to diversify the range of accommodation and services provided by Maroba to ensure it continues to be a relevant and dynamic organisation. I was elected to the Aged and Community Services Association of NSW & ACT board of directors in 2007 and President since 2012. I am also engaged in international Aged Care issues whilst serving on
the Global Ageing Network Board since 2013. 45 years of Health and Aged Care experience informs my everyday decision making not matter how insignificant or how grand those decisions may be.” Moving forward, Viv and her team have many exciting projects ahead which will allow Maroba to continue to grow and flourish. “Looking ahead, Maroba aspires to continue to be regarded as an influencer within the region, not only in the aged care sector but within the business community and community generally. Opportunities arise regularly for Maroba’s people to be the voice on a variety of issues from aged care to sustainability and lots in between. The “Braeside” apartments and Aged Care Facility is our next project. Along with planning for community services…they will run parallel with a care team and building team. “Additionally, Maroba recently launched the Hunter Aged Care Dining Revolution to share our experience and opportunities to enhance everyday life for seniors in our region and at Maroba.
Company: Maroba Contact: Viv Allanson Contact Email: Viv@maroba.com.au Address: 58 Edith Street, Waratah NSW 2298, Australia Phone: 61 2 4935 0300 Web Address: maroba.com.au
Best Business Intelligence Company CEO 2017 & Professional Network Management Firm of the Year - UK Winmark is a world class standard in the management of membership communities. We profile the firm and explore how CEO John Jeffcock has helped lead the firm to the market leading position it enjoys today. Established in 1997, today, over 2,500 directors and business leaders choose Winmark networks to source new ideas, learn from the best of their peers, and to keep abreast of cutting-edge management best practice. Member organisations range from the largest FTSE & Fortune companies to Central Government Departments, representing trillions of dollars in revenues and millions of people in global headcount. To meet their thirst for management know-how and valuable contacts Winmark works closely with the leading industry experts, Institutes and Business Schools, including Oxford, Cranfield, London and Ashridge. John has been Chief Executive of Winmark for the last 14 years, the European Leader in network management. John has a strong management research background and now focuses his time on working with Membership Advisory Panels and Strategic Partners. He leads on the management of the Non Executive Director (NED) network and is instrumental in the creation of new and outsourced networks. Thought leadership is a key aspect of the firm’s leadership, and John is keen to highlight the fact that it add material value to your target clients, creating debt and client preference over competition and identifies market
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opportunities and provides evidence to engage with existing and new clients. It also demonstrates to client’s unique knowledge, understanding and interest, brings the different parts of the business together to get behind a common issues then increases shareholder value in the form of brand equity and intellectual capital and helps build specialisations. Finally, the solution enhances reputation through both trust and credibility and provides a new form of engagement with stakeholders as well as motivating existing talent and attracts future talent. Overall, John is keen to highlight the fact that clients must prepare internally, then use this preparation to drive digital, media and client change to ensure ongoing excellence. Contact Email: john.jeffcock@ winmarkglobal.com Address: 7 Berghem Mews, Blythe Road, London, W14 0HN, UK Phone: 0 207 605 8000 Website: www.winmarkglobal.com/
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Best Immigration Support CEO 2017 – Maryland & Refugee Service Provider of the Year - Maryland The Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service supports a wide range of service users from its based in Baltimore, Maryland. We profile this vital organisation and explore how it works to support a wide range people. Founded in 1939, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is the second largest refugee resettlement agency in the United States. It is nationally recognized for its leadership advocating with refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, immigrants in detention, families fractured by migration and other vulnerable populations. Through more than 75 years of service and advocacy, the organisation has helped over 500,000 migrants and refugees rebuild their lives in America. Refugees and migrants play an important role in the U.S. workforce. The Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service’s innovative national employment initiative Higher helps employers fill critical positions. They enroll their children in school. They learn the local transit system. They sign up for English or computer classes, and they are eager to find employment to be able to provide for themselves and their families. As they work their way to self-sufficiency, refugees prove to be some of the most dependable, hardworking and committed members of our communities, congregations and workplaces. This dedicated organisation helps people seeking safety from persecution in their home countries and reunite families torn apart by conflict. Through its work the Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service resettle refugees, protect
Best Public Relations Business Leader 2017 – London The Cult is a multi-award-winning PR agency created by a team of former national newspaper and magazine journalists. We invited Charli Morgan to tell us a bit more about the agency and what are the reasons behind its achievements. A unique agency, The Cult is comprised entirely of former, national journalists who know the industry inside-out and have transformed the tedious era of press-release marketing into an exciting and imaginative process. Charli discusses what makes the company stand out from other PR agencies, and how the firm works with its diverse range of clients.
vulnerable children who arrive alone in the United States and advocate for compassion and justice for all migrants. As one of the nation’s leading refugee resettlement organizations, the organisation draws upon decades of service expertise to inform our advocacy on behalf of people fleeing war and persecution. Overall, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people, and will continue to work closely with them to ensure that they continue to receive the support they need. Company: Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service Contact: Miji Bell Contact Email: MBell@lirs.org Address: 700 Light Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230, USA Phone: 001 410-230-2841 Website: lirs.org
“Unlike many PRs, here at the Cult our specialist team can write editorial in a wide range of house styles, thus helping the rapidly dwindling staff on print and digital titles and ensuring that often, our own copy runs, using the tone and angle we require and including all plugs. “Dealing with a wide variety of contacts, our clients complement and strengthen each other’s campaigns and broaden our opportunities. It also means that we approach each client in a more creative and open-minded manner. Also, we ensure that the clients we represent are varied, so are not in competition with each other when it comes to PR opportunities.” When undertaking a new client, it is important to make a good first impression and ensure that the client’s requirements are achievable, on both sides. Charli explains that the objectives of the project are outlined at the start of the campaign.
“To ensure we always meet their needs, when we take on a new client we make sure that clear objectives are defined at the start of the campaign, with targets and a comprehensive strategy. It is also important that we have all necessary assets as well as enough of the client’s time for interviews and to give the green light to opportunities, so they are not lost.” Regarding the future aspirations of herself and the firm, Charli is optimistic of a bright future ahead. “Recently we have set up a sister agency to The Cult, called The Creationists, to provide social media management and content creation. We intend to grow this alongside The Cult over the coming years and increase its staff. “Overall, I’m proud to be a director of The Cult, The Creationists and virtual reality company Cultural Reality, and I’d like to continue broadening our story-telling tools, growing our teams and securing even bigger and more ambitious clients to shout about.”
Company: The Cult PR Contact: Charli Morgan Contact Address: charli@thecultpr.co.uk Address: 82 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0AS, UK Phone: 0207 260 0063 Website: www.thecultpr.co.uk
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2017 Global CEO Excellence Awards winners’ magazine for Best International Trade & Development CEO & Excellence Award for International Recruitment Services – Canada Québec International is an economic development agency serving companies and investors. We invited Carl Viel, President and CEO to tell us more. Québec International’s mission is to contribute to the economic development of the Québec City metropolitan region and enhance its international status. As a regional economic development agency, Québec International fosters business growth and development, supports key clusters and attracts talent and investments to the area. Discussing his previous roles and how he arrived at the position of CEO, Carl lists his previous achievements. “Originally from Québec City, I received my bachelor’s degree in economics and a corporate governance certificate from Laval University. I also completed training programs in entrepreneurship (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), leadership (NTL Institute) and coaching (Niagara Institute). After nearly 20 years in the private sector, I then held managerial positions with various economic organizations, including as vice-president of Montreal International and
general manager of Montreal InVivo.” For Carl, the challenges and opportunities he has faced during his time at Québec International, are “drivers to continue to improve our organization, to continue to rethink our “working” model, to adapt our approach to a changing environment and ensure that we’re addressing our evolving customer needs.” Under Carl’s leadership, international trade services and accompanying companies in their foreign market expansion where constantly adapted and outcomes measured in order to realign with business needs. The organization has also been recognized to their effective international talent recruitment. “Every year, our talent and international entrepreneur attraction team provides coaching services for hiring and onboarding talent, consultation services in international mobility and training activities for companies. However, in order to enhance and intensify our presence internationally, we have conducted three promotion and scouting missions for
international entrepreneurs in Brazil and France. These missions allowed us to establish strategic partnerships and promote our regional business environment, and as such these markets will remain our ongoing focus moving forward.” Constant, consistent improvement is key to his and his organization’s success, believes Carl. “We’re working in global market, where everyone is trying to attract, train and retrain talent. Like many others we’re seeking new ways to stand out of the crowd, especially when everyone is offering the same selling benefit to attract talent. In the future we need to maintain a level of innovation to distinguish ourselves from competition and ensure that we operate with the highest standards.” “To achieve this goal, we need to continue to create a working environment where employees will learn and love what they’re doing and challenge themselves, and myself, to overachieve”
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Best Enterprise Software Company CEO 2017 – North-Central USA & Most Innovative Business Management Software Provider
Cincom is a global organization devoted to building strategic enterprise software solutions that help businesses better succeed. We profiled the firm and its CEO, Thomas M. Nies, to find out a bit more about the firm and the secrets behind its success. Thomas M. Nies is the founder and CEO of Cincom Systems. Since its founding, Mr. Nies has been the cornerstone of Cincom’s business success. Through its development and growth, Cincom has helped thousands of companies, including many from the Forbes Top 100 Companies, meet their own business goals. The company’s configure-pricequote, customer communications management, business application and development solutions are geared towards enhancing an organization’s selling capabilities, optimizing processes and delivering a better experience to customers. Mr. Nies was inspired to enter the Computer Software industry as he foresaw that the future of computers was not in selling hardware, but in selling software. This led to him founding Cincom in 1968. Having raised four children over the course of a 50+ year marriage, he is proud of his
family and their achievements. Within the business world, Mr. Nies is considered one of the founders of the software industry, demonstrating his considerable success. Standing out from other CEOs, Mr. Nies is a pioneer of the software industry and is currently the longest actively-serving CEO within the entire computer industry. His experience is invaluable to the firm and his associates. Mr. Nies was recognized by President Ronald Reagan as “the epitome of the entrepreneurial spirit of American business.” Outlining the mission of Cincom, the company aims to provide its clients’ businesses the tools they need to win and retain business. The firm provides innovative software development and an experienced solution design focused on helping its clients operate more efficiently and effectively. The organisation values character,
competence and commitment within its staff and throughout the whole company. Its values drive productivity, resulting in profitability and sustainability for the benefit of its customers, and for Cincom and its staff. Concerning his plans for the future, Mr. Nies has stated that he plans to retire from active service with Cincom on its 50th anniversary, next year. However, Mr. Nies still plans to continue to serve as CEO and Chairman of the board, citing a plan to also become more engaged in educational and social functions.
Company: Cincom Systems, Inc. Contact: Carla McQueen Contact Email: CMcQueen@ cincom.com Address: 55 Merchant Street, Cincinnati, OH 45246, USA Phone: 001 513 612 2113 Website: www.cincom.com
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Best Real Estate CEO 2017 - South Africa
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Best Real Estate CEO 2017 - South Africa Rebosis Property Fund Limited has a large portfolio which primarily consists of six regionally dominant shopping centres and large, single tenanted commercial offices in nodes attractive to the South African government providing a sovereign underpin. We invited Sisa Ngebulana to talk us through his role in the fund’s success and how it works to ensure strong return on investment for its valued investors. Rebosis Property Fund Ltd was established by the Billion Group in 2010 and on 17 May 2011 became the first blackmanaged and substantially black-held property fund to be listed on the JSE. On 24 July 2013, the Fund was approved as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Alongside its vast portfolio, Rebosis also owns 66% of New Frontier Properties, which Sisa co-founded. New Frontier comprises of three large shopping centres in BurtonUpon-Trent, Middlesbrough and Blackpool in the UK. Sisa outlines his role and how he works to drive success for the fund at all times. “Personally, I have run Rebosis as CEO since its inception and have grown it six-fold in the last 6 years, from having R3.6 billion in assets to the current R23 billion in assets. Since then I achieved an average 8% income growth year on year, which is well above South African inflation, in line with forecast ranges I indicated to the market. “Through my role, I run the strategy for growth, acquisitions and company structures, optimal funding mix, shareholder spread, corporate governance, operations and
retail performance. I report directly to the Board and provide market feedback, through results roadshows, one on ones and pre-year close presentations. In this task, I am assisted by a CFO and in the last six months a COO, plus a staff compliment of 225 people made up of executives, managers and general staff. My leadership style consists of inclusiveness, decisiveness and allocation of responsibility and accountability whilst caring about my staff and rewarding excellence. There are clearly defined consequences for non-performance and incentives for out performance. “Overall, our organisation identifies its year plans and strategies in line with our vision and mission each year. As a team we push the boundaries and ensure that our vision and mission is achieved. The common thread and goal is focus, hard work and discipline always.” Alongside supporting his staff, Sisa works hard to ensure that clients feel supported and enjoy their experience, as he is eager to highlight as he talks us through his role in the client facing side of Reboisis’s operations. “Through my role here at Rebosis, I work in an
environment where I have to provide the best facilities and incentives for customers in our shopping centres, what we call “shoppertainment”, through not only offering a shopping experience but also social spaces and entertainment, which in turns improves dwell time and increases spending. I further work with retailers, ranging from National retail grocers such as Pick n Pay, Woolworths and Checkers to Fashion retailers such as Truworths, Edcon, Pepkor, Foschini Group and various other retailers of national and international calibre. “As part of this role, I am involved in negotiating leases, monitoring trade performances, reporting footfalls, car counts and data collated from the shopping centres Wi-Fi connections in order to assist and aid their retail performance. In the commercial/ office building space, I work with National Government Departments with a team that ensures that they have efficient, working buildings.” To ensure excellence, Sisa draws on his former roles and education, both of which he is eager to showcase. “With regards to my education, I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Fort Hare, and LLB postgraduate Degree from
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Best Real Estate CEO 2017 - South Africa
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Natal University, and an LLM Master’s Degree from RAU. I did my articles with Jan S de Villiers Attorneys in Cape Town and I was admitted as an attorney of the High Court, where I specialised in commercial litigation matters. “Prior to my role at Rebosis, I founded Billion Group, some 19 year ago, which is an award winning 100% back owned property development and investment company. Billion Group specialises in retail, commercial and mixed-use developments located in major South African cities and has developed well-known shopping centres like Hemingways Mall, Mdantsane City Shopping Centre, Forest Hill City Shopping Centre and more recently Baywest Mall and BT Ngebs City Shopping Centre. I have also worked for Eskom as the senior to chief legal adviser for a period of seven years, then corporate consultant. During this time, I specialised in property, financial and engineering legal disciplines. I joined one of my clients in Eskom Treasury and ultimately traded money markets and capital markets. I also headed up project and structured finance. It is through this experience over the years that made me deal and find solutions to complicated commercial matters and financial market exposure. I left employment and started my own business developing homes. Once I had built up a balance sheet, I started acquiring commercial property and eventually developed large regional shopping centres in South Africa. “In running my business, I was CEO from running a small entity with no balance sheet and built it up to listing and eventually to what it is today. My exposure to complicated commercial matters and financial markets structuring transactions remains indispensable in the day-today running of this business in my role as CEO. I understand that, before undertaking any project, you need to do your homework properly. I research the needs of my potential clients, the personalities involved and
experiences in engaging a similar service to what I give.
that we keep pushing each other to greater heights.”
“Additionally, in development projects, you undertake rigorous market research before you commence with the development of a shopping centre. In doing this you highlight potential risks and mitigating actions from a planning perspective. On acquisitions, we conduct thorough due diligence investigations of the buildings, the structure, mechanical, fire compliance, lease agreements, etc. more so on retail as we focus on trading performance, trade densities, footfall, growth and optimal tenant mix.”
The fund has overcome many challenges to achieve the success it enjoys today, thanks to Sisa’s leadership. He discusses his biggest challenge and how he worked to prosper despite this.
With regards to Rebosis, currently the firm has a number of ongoing projects which are helping drive it to success, as Sisa discusses. “My ongoing strategy is that of growth of income and quality of assets, which is a hard combination to find. In the current financial year, Rebosis concluded a landmark transaction with Billion Group for the acquisition of two dominant regional shopping malls, and management companies that effectively internalised all Rebosis management with 226 staff members. The business is currently positioned as a retail focused fund consisting of large dominant shopping malls that enjoys a sovereign underpin on its commercial portfolio. “The Portfolio has enviable property assets that are of a superior quality and that are well looked after internally. Our business is staffed with experienced and highly skilled management teams with in depth knowledge of the business. We also have ensured that the business is on sound footing with systems, processes and well-defined accountability and reporting structures. “To continually achieve excellence, I have always surrounded myself with competent people who challenge me as I do not settle for mediocrity. I have always looked for and found people with my same drive and we make sure
“The biggest challenge has always been to try make and keep the largest investors happy given their divergent views and focus. Most were sceptical analysts that lack experience and base their views on their own spreadsheet outcomes. I have found opportunities in most challenges and more than regular interaction with shareholders and analysts proved critical to my success, more so when faced with competitors who thrive on criticising anything that would make them look good. “Recently in the acquisition transaction with Billion Group, I experienced massive pushback from analysts as they questioned whether I was the buyer and the seller (having developed the assets under Billion Group and Billion Group then selling the assets and the management business to Rebosis). There was a lot of enmity in the market, distrust and unwarranted negative publicity. It took a toll on me as competitors, sceptics and some analysts worked tirelessly to sabotage the process. I worked hard and went straight to my Board and shareholders to build back their trust and I ended up in a stronger position than when the whole transaction started. Six months later, we concluded the transaction with 88% shareholder approval, which is exceptional. It was just one more lesson on that perilous role to leadership success and the journey was worth the price.” As he looks towards the future Sisa has a number of invigorating developments planned for both himself and the fund which he shares with us in his concluding comments. “Looking ahead at Rebosis, our future aspirations are to continue to build on the success path of the Rebosis assets and improving quality of existing
assets and income. This could include possible takeovers of other listed property funds such as the recently concluded takeover of Ascension Properties Limited by Rebosis, which took two years to conclude. “With regards to my own career, considering that I run two roles as CEO of Rebosis and Billion Group, I will be retiring as CEO of Rebosis with effect from 30 September 2017. This will allow for a smooth hand over for the next four months to the newly appointed CEO, Mr Andile Mazwai. Rebosis has grown into a very large fund and it has become necessary to have a full time CEO to drive growth aspirations. I have accepted an invitation from the Rebosis Board to take up the position of non-executive Deputy Chairman, effective from 1 October 2017. “Therefore, overall, I will be focusing on my role as Chairman of New Frontier Properties, Deputy Chairman of Rebosis and Executive Chairman of Billion Group. Having been the founder of these companies, operating at a higher level will enable me to have a far greater impact on strategy and focus from a helicopter view without the day-to-day management stresses and activities. This will in turn allow me to draw on my previous leadership successes and positively impact and guide leadership activities of these entities. Alongside this, I also intend to focus on other macro leadership matters affecting society and my philanthropic activities. All of this provides many great opportunities for both myself and Rebosis.” Photo credit: Devin Lester Photography
Contact Email: Hayley@rebosis.co.za Address: 3rd Floor, Palazzo Towers West, Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways, JHB, South Africa Phone: +27 11 511 5335 Web Address: www.rebosis.co.za
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Best Music Industry Advocacy CEO - Canada SOCAN connects more than four-million music creators worldwide and more than a quartermillion businesses and individuals in Canada. We invited Eric Baptiste to tell us more about his role in the firm’s success. SOCAN is Canada’s Performing Rights Organization. The organisation licenses the right of music creators and publishers for the public performance of their songs by broadcasters, concert organizers, online services etc. Recent acquisitions over the past year have helped move the organization forward as a full service provider to intellectual property stakeholders, such as digital service providers, creators, publishers and record companies. Eric, who has helped to drive this development, talks us through his previous experience and how he draws
on this to ensure that he is constantly creating excellence for the firm. “Prior to joining SOCAN as CEO, I was CEO of CISAC, the international federation of copyright organizations. Prior to that I was COO of Radio France International. My experience as a radio broadcaster, lobbyist and business standards leaders prepared me very well to be the CEO of a dynamic organization such as SOCAN. When I first started at SOCAN, the organization needed to believe a bit more in itself and what it could accomplish to free up the energy that was latent but obvious.
Then we had to streamline, invest more in technology, both internally as well as externally, and crucially in innovation-driven people. These were key areas for me to focus on once I arrived. We dramatically improved our cost base and capacity in very short order. “Overall, I am very proud that I have been able to lead SOCAN, an already strong organization, to an even higher level of performance. We have established records in virtually every measure of corporate growth and development.” With regards to leadership, Eric works collaboratively with his
staff to ensure excellence, as he is keen to highlight. “Personally, I firmly believe in developing a clear and compelling vision as well as hiring great people and getting out of their way. Having smart and driven executives allows us to accomplish so much more. To ensure that our vision remains in the forefront, we measure our progress against it regularly and ensure that all new initiatives or acquisitions match up to our strategy.” As he looks to the future Eric is excited for his organisation’s plans for continued growth and even greater success. “Looking ahead, my aspiration for SOCAN is to help the organization lead the global transformation of music rights. I am proud of the success that SOCAN has enjoyed and the strength that we have built, and am eager to help SOCAN, our subsidiaries, members, customers and employers reach their potential.”
Contact: Jeff King Contact Email: Jeff.King@socan.com Address: 41 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3B 2S6, Canada Phone: 001 416-442-3811
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Communications & Media CEO of the Year 2017 - Central America Publicis Media is home to leading world-class media agencies – Starcom, Zenith, Mediavest|Spark, Blue 449 and Performics – and a range of centralized global practices that focus on everything from analytics to business transformation to content. Marta Ruiz-Cuevas tells us more. Publicis Media is the media solutions hub of Publicis Groupe. In keeping with Publicis Groupe’s “Power of One” model, the firm provides a seamless and flexible way for our clients to get the best media services available. They specifically benefit from the scale and clout we hold collectively in the marketplace; the range of services Publicis Media provides; the centralized, data-driven practice specialties that help power some of our best work; and broader access to the best solutions from across Publicis Groupe. As CEO of such a dynamic and innovative firm, Marta has to draw on her vast experience in this field to ensure excellence, as she explains. “Personally, I have been in this business long enough to know that you can never sit still. It is constantly changing and you need to be nimble and flexible; you need to go where the consumer is going. Consumers are adopting technology at a much faster rate and consuming content in ways, and at a speed, we never dreamed about. During my time at Publicis Groupe, I have seen our agency evolve to meet those changing client needs. I have been fortunate to work across many different disciplines, clients and regions. I have spent time in the US, Spain and Mexico and helped move digital from a separate silo into the very core of our organization. The latest evolution
of Publicis Media is very exciting for me, as it gives us a powerful proposition in the marketplace. We can add more value for our clients by bringing together our collective insights, innovation, technology and data. We are not just transforming marketing our clients; we are also transforming their business. “As CEO of Publicis Media Mexico, I am responsible for cultivating a powerful platform for which our agency brands can flourish. In addition, I drive operations and transformation across the business through our Data, Technology and Innovation practice. Together, with our global agency brand and practice teams, we are continuously looking for ways to innovate, refine and deliver on our clients’ business objectives. My greatest responsibility will be delivering on Publicis Media’s three pillars of Talent, Trust and Transformation, as well as continuing to shape and differentiate the agency of the future and this is what I would like the people in my team to focus on. I have always surrounded myself with a team of people that complemented each other, people with a variety of skills that made the team bigger and better than the sum of each one of us individually. Motivation and a participative mind-set get the best of each individual. If you want your team to believe in the project, you have to truly believe in it first; and if you are passionate about it, the team will embrace it 100%.”
Moving forward, Marta’s ongoing focus will be on keeping ahead of the technological market and ensuring excellence for Publicis Media, as she concludes. “Overall, one of the things that motivates me the most about our industry and where communication and marketing lives today is the ever-changing environment. Technology has made our jobs more complex, more challenging and more fascinating than ever. As time goes by, instead of feeling that I know more, I feel quite the opposite, the more I learn the more questions I have. I just finished an executive master in digital marketing where I had class every Friday from 4pm to 10pm and Saturdays from 9am to 2pm for over two months; PUBLICIS PUB_16_9404_Logo_Media_Pant 04/03/2016
24, rue Salomon de Rothschild - 92288 Suresnes - FRANCE Tél. : +33 (0)1 57 32 87 00 / Fax : +33 (0)1 57 32 87 87 Web : www.carrenoir.com
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that was tough. Next week I am going to Harvard for a seminar in Digital Business and I have a feeling that when I come back I will have more questions; this is what I love about our industry, the speed is such that one has to keep challenging the status quo.”
Contact Email: marta.ruiz-cuevas@ publicismedia.com Address: Bosques de Duraznos 47, 4rd Floor, Mexico City, 11700, Mexico Phone: 0052 55 5246 5800
ÉQUIVALENCE PANTONE®
PANTONE 871 C
NOIR 100 %
CEO MONTHLY / GLOBAL CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 37
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Resin Manufacturing CEO of the Year – Malaysia Asta Chemicals Sdn Bhd are primarily a manufacturer of chemical resin and adhesives for the wood industry, who also toll manufacture resin and chemicals that are used in the oil and gas industry and in the preservation of animal feed. We invited the company’s CEO Jerry Looi, to tell us more about the company. Established in 1974 with a current workforce of over 200 employees, Asta Chemicals Sdn Bhd manufacture chemical resin and adhesives for the wood industry. Their customers are mainly involved in the production of plywood, particle boards, medium density fibreboard, furniture, etc. The firm currently also toll manufacture chemicals but mainly for MNC. Jerry brings a wealth of experience to the company he renamed and founded, and gives us an insight into how the company deals with new clients. “My experience in both finance and operations on a global and regional scale has given me a wider perspective and it has enhanced my ability to deal with issues at every level of management. In the case of a new project, we will evaluate the future growth prospect, the financial viability / return within a reasonable time frame, the capital investment (what synergy is involved) and lastly the technical knowhow must be accessible / can be secured and where required proper management & man power are in place. “Our practice is to be transparent and get all the relevant people involved from the beginning of the project because commitment must be a team effort. In doing so, the team objectives and time line are all clearly stated to ensure that we cover all the salient areas. The team will monitor the progress and report
accordingly during periodical meetings.” Interacting with clients and making sure they are fully satisfied with the service they receive is important to the company. One of the ways Jerry ensures this is by constantly monitoring the staff and keep them up to date with goings on in management. The staff have incentives for meeting their targets, whilst also being trained properly, to guarantee a safe environment within the company, as Jerry explains.
welfare) and our processes in a systematic manner. We ensure our staff are trained properly to ensure good maintenance so that all aspects of our machinery function well. All employees are required to be aware of our company’s top priority and comply to our EHS policy and
“To ensure satisfaction for our staff, we practise a very transparent management style. Department heads and senior mgmt. staff participate in meetings and keep all informed on the performance of the company. Various outstanding issues and recommendations are discussed whenever it is deemed necessary and decisions are made to carry them out. Close follow up on targets and objectives are corresponded closely with financials which are clearly tabled out in meetings. Incentives are usually paid out when the vision and targets are met. “The biggest challenge is always ‘People’. We need to have well trained people who are committed to their task. We have nurtured a team that is well trained technically and can deliver the required products to our customers on time and within the expected cost. The key in managing this challenge is that we need to manage both our People (including their
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guidelines. We all need to be conscious of the management’s desire to protect our people and work in a safe environment.” Looking forward, the company are looking to expand the business both regionally and globally, and with a plan in
place, the future looks bright for Asta Chemicals Sdn Bhd. Jerry believes that the continuing success of the company has been earned and that teamwork with a clear focus has contributed to the firm’s accomplishments. “As we look to the future, we would like to expand and grow our business regionally and into the surrounding countries by establishing new plants and operations. At present, we export to many different countries but our hope is to expand further. We look forward to diversifying our Chemicals business and where possible merge or acquire existing chemicals businesses that are a good fit for us. We continue to focus our 5-year plan while checking on our progress periodically as we move along this path. Success is not an accident – it is the result of a
lot of planning, hard work and a team of committed people working together with a clear focus. “Overall, I believe that recognition and a good reputation can be earned but it takes a lot of trials, time, and effort. In my opinion, this recognition is a reflection the company’s performance and sound business strategy. It would not only empower our people, but solidify confidence for both our current and potential customers and suppliers in terms of doing business with our company.”
Company: Asta Chemicals Sdn Bhd Contact: Jerry Looi Contact Email: jerry.looi@astachemicals.com Address: D-30-01, Menara Suezcap 1, No. 2, Jalan Kerinchi, Gerbang Kerinchi Lestari, Kuala Lumpur, 59200, Malaysia, 00603 9212 4055 Web Address: astachemicals.com
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Best Oil & Gas CEO 2017 - Canada Blue Spark Energy is a technology start-up in the oil & gas space. We invited Todd Parker, CEO, to tell us more about the success of the firm. Bringing a new approach to remediation of oil wells, Blue Spark Energy are demonstrating a safe and effective technology for the repair of the accumulation of debris in a wellbore that might be impeding safe or economic production. This technology is both small in footprint and environmental impact but big on financial return for operators. Whilst explaining what the firm does and the clients serves, Todd also tells us about his previous roles and how he came to achieve his position as CEO. “Prior to my role here at Blue Spark Energy, I served in leadership roles in large organizations Including multi-service and product multi-national companies, but the opportunity to launch a new technology was exciting enough to cause me to step out and start my own organization. Understanding the frameworks of large organizations, especially in serving international markets, while simultaneously being nimble as a small company has allowed us to be opportunistic in identifying and following through on opportunities.” To ensure excellence for clients, the firm’s relationship with them is important to the firm, and the safety of personnel and environment has been the driving force behind Todd’s approach to new clients. He feels reaching an agreement with clients on new project goals is essential in order for the firm to undertake the
project. The technology which the firm uses is as environmentally friendly as possible, which Todd outlines below. “From the outset, safety of personnel and environment has been a tremendous personal driver to me. Our technology has one of the lowest environmental impacts you can deploy into a wellbore for production remediation. That is only satisfying for all involved if it is deployed safely and ultimately if it is effective. Communication and agreement on these goals is critical at the outset of a project and if they cannot be met, then it is the wrong project for us.” Being environmentally friendly is also vital to the firm, which prides itself on helping to preserve the ecosystem for future generations. The company’s ongoing strategy for producing good results includes embracing every single project which meets the firm’s criteria, whilst also being able to travel globally in order to incorporate clients’ and achieve the goals the company has set, resulting in team members eager to seek the next project, which Todd discusses. “As we continue to refine the technology to suit today’s commodity environment, we also continue to seek opportunities globally where safety, environmental governance and project economics are critical for our customer’s success. As we can deploy quickly to anywhere in the world, no project which meets our criterion is overlooked. Every successful project we deliver boosts the team’s appetite to seek out the next one.”
As a CEO, part of Todd’s role involves keeping the staff within the company happy and well equipped to meet surpass its client’s needs and demands. It is important to Todd that all team members are pulling in the same direction, so Todd encourages staff to speak up and have an opinion in order to choose the right path. “The benefit, I have learned, from a small organization is the ability to touch all parts of it easily and quickly. I’ve always been curious and questioning of all aspects of the business as it impacts my groups results in large organizations but in a small organisation you can be part of the real-time communication and delivery of solutions. In all of my teams I emphasise the need to speak up and dissenting opinions matter, but ultimately as a group we need to choose a single path forward.” Regarding the future aspirations for the business, Todd states that he hopes to grow Blue Spark globally as an alternative to technologies which are not economically and environmentally friendly.
40 CEO MONTHLY / GLOBAL CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
“The world will continue to require hydrocarbons for the future and technologies that help produce it in an economic and environmentally responsible way are vital. We will continue to grow Blue spark globally as an alternative that will fulfil those needs. Concerning his own career and aspirations, Todd measures his own success through the success of his team, as proved by his desire to make all of them successful in their own roles. This is satisfactory for Todd and validates his ability to lead as CEO. “My own success is measured through the success of my team – making each of them successful in their roles (sales, marketing, operations, safety) is both satisfying and validating of my ability to successfully lead.” Company: Blue Spark Energy Inc Contact: Todd Parker Contact Email: T.Parker@bluesparkenergy.com Address: 300-903 8 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0P7, Canada Phone: 001 403 719-9011 Website: bluesparkenergy.com
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Electronics Company CEO of the Year 2017 Electrocomponents is the global distributor for engineers. We invited Lindsley Ruth, CEO of the firm, to tell us more about his and the company’s recent achievements. Electrocomponents is a global highservice distributor supporting customers with a broad range of industrial and electronic products and services that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses. When Lindsley Ruth joined as CEO, the company was facing some clear challenges and performance results were poor. The UK business, for example, had been in decline for two and a half years. Overall, costs were way too high and customer service was not where it should have been. Lindsley tells us about his previous role, whilst also outlining the changes he and the company have had to make to turn its performance around. “Before joining Electrocomponents as CEO in 2015, I was Executive Vice President of the Future Electronics Group of companies, the fourth largest electronics distributor in the world. In this role, I was a key member of the core leadership team which transformed the organisation’s performance and expanded its global reach. When I joined Electrocomponents, it didn’t take me long to realise the potential of our company. We have a large, fragmented and growing marketplace, strong brands and a huge customer base. But I was struck by the complexity of the organisation and its processes. “In November 2015, we began a journey to transform the business and its financial performance. Our turnaround programme focused on improving the customer and supplier experience, driving
an accountable and highperformance culture, and striving for operational excellence through simplification and operating for less. We have made strong progress and taken a major step forward by focusing on getting the basics right. This focus has led to a significant improvement in our 2017 financial results with faster revenue growth, an increase in gross margin, a higher conversion of gross profit into operating profit, and a substantial upgrade in headline operating profit. We have also improved our customer satisfaction and delivered total savings of £25 million.” With the focus on making customers’ lives easier, Lindsley discusses how it is essential to create value for both customers and suppliers as this is what he believes will differentiate the firm from its competitors. “We have begun to refocus the business back on what lies at its heart, the customer and the supplier. It isn’t about what customers can do for us, but rather what we can do for them. We are here to help them today by solving tomorrow’s problems. Our future will be determined by how quickly we gather insight, interpret it and deliver the solutions they need. “In order to drive transformational change in our culture and our results, we have significantly reshaped and strengthened our leadership team, a team that shares my ambition and vision for the business, for whom a satisfactory performance is no longer good enough. This is important, since it starts with the
leadership and it starts with me. We are moving from a culture of saying to doing. One of our key assets is our people and we need to ensure we invest, educate and motivate them to drive best-in-class results.”
the changing times as it does on great products and great service. To survive in this space, one must have innovation at its core. We are investing to drive more innovation into our business and my role is to lead this charge.
Lindsley explains to us that although the organisation is focused on making its operating model as lean and efficient as possible, it is not all about driving efficiencies. He points out that the business now has a newly installed team of highly talented individuals who are dedicated to looking at ways to drive differentiation and innovation into its customer offer. He also discusses how the company is starting to reap the rewards of its transformation but there is still a long way to go for the firm.
“We have taken a major step forward and I am proud of the progress we have made, but we will not rest on our laurels. As we move into 2018, we are using the strong momentum we have gained to reinvest in our brands, people and systems to accelerate growth and increase efficiency. We are encouraged by results so far, but feel we are still very much at the beginning of this journey and have significant opportunity for further improvement.”
“Our market is changing, with digital transition, customers consolidating their supplier base, and the Industrial Internet of Things, for example. The changing landscape of the high-tech industry requires as great a priority on adapting to
Contact Email: Lynn.Webster-Scott@ electrocomponents.com Web Address: electrocomponents.com
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, Best HR Management CEO India
UK’s Leading Executive Search CEO
AscentHR is a company engaged in delivering mission critical and information sensitive HR solutions. We invited Subramanyam S to tell us a bit more about the firm and its accomplishments.
NJF is a tech-focussed company offering a wide range of services. A by-product of these is recruitment, as CEO Nathan Francis explains.
Dedicated to providing helpful and engaging solutions to its clients, AscentHR covers a wide range of HR issues including HR Process automation, payroll and benefits processing and risk management and assurance. Subramanyam talks us through his previous roles and how he came to achieve his position as CEO.
Founded in 2003, NJF has since flourished and its reputation among many of the world’s leading institutions has resulted in a prolific demand for our services and the continued expansion of its international network. Nathan discusses how the firm’s specialist knowledge ensure excellence for its clients.
“Possessing a wealth of experience, I am a corporate lawyer by training and have held various positions in corporates over 14 years in the fields of corporate law, corporate finance and HR Management. This proximity to the employer obligation management coupled with experience in managing different cultural and regulatory practices did lay a great foundation of knowledge for me personally. It was based on such exposure we built AscentHR and moved it up the value chain to what it is today.” Discussing AscentHR and the business it conducts, Subramanyam tells us about the firm’s ongoing strategy and what techniques it employs to ensure that the company achieves its overall mission. “The business we are engaged in is industry agnostic and the sensitivity of this delivery is gaining traction on a continuous basis. People assets are a key differentiator and if not handled appropriately, it dents the business by way of morale loss leading to impact on productivity. We have been trying to innovate continuously and mix the best
practices as much as possible in a situation to achieve the optimum efficiency.” Subramanyam tells us about his leadership style and he makes sure everyone in his organisation understands his vision and strives to achieve the same goals. “Typically, I am one who takes the bull by its horn. Leading by example is always a good inspiration to your colleagues in difficult situations while ensuring you highlight facts without mixing any fiction given the constraints of a solutions or consulting services sale or delivery. We are very transparent and encourage adaptability, accountability and accuracy as our traits while serving a customer.” Regarding his own career, Subramanyam outlines how he plans to build upon his current success at the firm, intent on making the company a global player. “Right now, I am happy with my role and intent on making AscentHR a global player. I Would like to take one goal at a time as of now and see future growth later.”
Company: Ascent Consulting Service Private Limited Contact: Mr Subramanyam.S Contact Email: billing@ascent-online.com Address: #420, 100 Feet Road, 4th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560034, India Phone: 0091 804 0099 500 Website: www.ascent-online.com
“Fundamentally, NJF’s focus is within the trading and technology markets. Our interrelated teams employ rigorous research methodologies to ensure that we are at the forefront of the latest trends in both spheres. Our consultants are devoted to unearthing world-class talent and guiding the right people into the right jobs. “To achieve this goal we make the individual our priority. This, in turn, strengthens our comprehensive knowledge of the market and drives our continuous research effort. Along with taking the time to gain a deep understanding of each candidate’s technical skills and market experience, we also get to know them as people. This ensures that our efforts result in a long-term, lasting relationship for both client and candidate.” The firm’s two focuses, technology and trading, are both unique, and therefore require individual approaches, as Nathan explains. “At NJF, our trading practice coordinates the careers of high-performing traders, quants
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and data scientists across the upper echelons of quantitative managers: hedge funds, proprietary trading organizations and tech firms. “Alongside this, our technology practice has a track record of finding the very best developers and infrastructure experts to build world-class systems and frameworks for high frequency proprietary trading firms, hedge funds and technology start-ups.” Looking ahead, Nathan is excited for the future of NJF as he outlines how it will continue to grow and succeed through its client focused approach. “Ultimately, here at NJF we recognize that organizations want their staff to reflect the world’s diverse population. As such we are committed to identifying, attracting and cultivating promising talent from the broadest possible spectrum of professionals. Our continued success has enabled us to build long-standing relationships and to expand our list of contacts in a wide range of communities; this further enhances our ability to deliver and we are committed to further developing this going forward.” Offices: 43 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, W1J 5AP+44 20 7604 4444 Switchboard 84th Floor,233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606+1 (312) 204 7216 Switchboard 4th Floor, 535 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10017 +1 (212) 400 4845 Switchboard Email: info@nfjsearch.com Web: www.njfsearch.com
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Alternative Energy CEO of the Year & Best Wind Energy Company - Europe The Gemini offshore wind park, located in the Dutch North Sea, is one of the world’s largest wind farms, both in terms of size and production. With a total of 600 megawatt capacity, it produces sufficient electricity for 1.5 million people. We spoke to CEO Matthias Haag to explore the part he has played in the firm’s success. A truly ground breaking project, the Gemini Wind Park is currently producing about 2.6TWh per year and avoiding about 1.25million tons of CO2 per year. Uniquely, Gemini is also one of the largest ever project-financed wind project, financed by more than 25 commercial banks with an overall construction budget of about €2.8 billion. The project is owned by a consortium, including Canadian sustainable energy producer Northland Power (60%), wind turbine manufacturer Siemens (20%), marine engineering contractor Van Oord (10%) and energy and waste materials organization HVC (10%). Responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the park and liaising with contractors to ensure that the park achieves its goals, Matthias’s role is varied and requires experience and dedication, as he explains. “Personally, I joined the Gemini Wind Project as Chief Executive Officer in January 2014. Prior to my role here I was Chief Operating Officer at the wave energy company Aquamarine Power, during which time I was an executive director responsible for all technical and contractual/ commercial issues within the company. I also served as nonexecutive director of Oceanflow Energy, at tidal energy company. This broad experience helps me to succeed in my current role and
ensure operational excellence for the Gemini Wind Park. “Since we are a project specific company we deal mostly with contractors and project partners. A good set-up with clear responsibilities from the start and the right team was essential to make a large international project a success, and as such I am proud of what the team has achieved and how well the project is now operating.” Looking to the future, Matthias is keen to share the wealth of his knowledge and experience and build upon his current success, as he proudly concludes. “Moving forward, I would like continue learning and to do challenging work, but also start to share my experiences with younger businesses, projects and people. This could be through a non-executive role or by providing coaching to staff within and outside our own business. There are many options open and I am excited to find out what the future has in store.”Company: Gemini Wind Park
Address: Amstelveenseweg 760, 1081 JK, Amsterdam, Netherlands Phone: 0031 20 723 00 00 Web Address: www.geminiwindpark.nl
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Tourism Promotion CEO of the Year - UAE The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) was formed under the government of Ras Al Khaimah to develop the emirate’s tourism infrastructure and establish the region as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel. We spoke to Haitham Mattar to find out more about the company and the reasons behind his own success.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) was formed under the government of Ras Al Khaimah to develop the emirate’s tourism infrastructure and establish the region as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel. We spoke to Haitham Mattar to find out more about the tourism authority and the reasons behind his own success. Established in 2011, RAKTDA works to license and regulate the tourism and hospitality products across the emirate. It is also tasked with overseeing domestic and overseas promotions and supporting natural heritage and environmental preservation across the region. Through various initiatives, RAKTDA works hand in hand with government entities, travel, tourism and hospitality stakeholders and local communities to derive the maximum economic and social benefit from tourism. Specifically, the authority collaborates with major tour operators and global airlines, across multiple regions including Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia, as well as some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry. Through successful collaboration, the authority is able to stimulate sustainable job growth, increase the tourism
industry’s financial contribution to the economy and support a growing number of travellers that visit Ras Al Khaimah every year. Haitham tells us how it feels to be named Tourism Promotion CEO of the year in the UAE, whilst also discussing what he attributes to his success and what difference the award can make in terms of future business. “After being named CEO of the Year, I feel honoured. Over the last two years, and thanks to the clear vision, direction and support of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, RAKTDA has adopted a strategic approach to the promotion and development of Ras Al Khaimah as an all-round tourist destination. To be recognised for our work is extremely humbling.
marketing and growth strategy. With his education qualifications mostly being obtained abroad, it is clear Haitham has a wealth of experience in international marketing and brands. “With over 25 years of experience in global destination and hospitality management, I have held senior roles with leading global brands, including Marriott, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Hilton Worldwide. As Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Hilton Worldwide, I was responsible for over 130 hotels and managed a 240-plus strong team across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Russia. During this time, I was able to sharpen my aptitude in hospitality, travel and tourism, so it was a natural progression into my current role at RAKTDA.
“Much of my success comes from the support I receive from HH The Ruler, my counterparts in the government and my talented team at RAKTDA. I am hoping that winning this award will raise the awareness of Ras Al Khaimah across the world.” Outlining his previous roles, Haitham discusses how he came to achieve his position as CEO and whether he draws on these past experiences in order to help him in his role. He notes that his international experience is invaluable and uses this to lead Ras Al Khaimah’s destination
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“As CEO of RAKTDA, I use my international experience to lead Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism development plan, destination marketing and growth strategy. Ras Al Khaimah is achieving sustainable growth in visitor numbers and netting a growing share of the global outbound tourism market. I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Central Florida and an MBA in marketing from the University of Liverpool, having completed a thesis on the sustainability of tourism in Dubai.” The outcome when approaching a new client or project is crucial for any CEO of any business. Haitham must therefore ensure that the needs of everyone involved in new projects are met. He explains what steps he takes to guarantee this, including conducting research before
undertaking any project, whilst also making sure the team are aligned with the authority’s vision and goals. “Number one is to ensure that my team are aligned with our strategy, vision and goals, so that we can work together to achieve what we promise to set out to do, no matter how ambitious. And two, is to create the right working environment that keeps them motivated and driven. From projects ranging from the launch of new destination products in the mountains, to organizing world class events that bring together the visitors and the community, I make sure that my team and our stakeholders have everything they need to achieve success. And three is to do everything right from the start by ensuring that everything we do is informed by research and studies.” The strategy of how the authority develops the tourism infrastructure is simple but the team and their staff must still
employ an array of techniques in order to ensure the vision and goals are met. Defining his team’s strategy, using an example, Haitham lists a current project which has undergone extensive research to enable the team to reach its goals in 2019 and in the future. “Destination Ras Al Khaimah 2019” is the first tourism strategy for Ras Al Khaimah. As the product of extensive consultation and research, it enables us to lead our industry and many stakeholders to deliver our common goals to 2019 and beyond. Our vision is to create a compelling destination for visitors seeking authentic culture and nature-based Arabian experiences. What we have done differently is engage the local community in order to extract our brand essence and values. This insight has allowed us to reveal the Arabian culture, heritage and authenticity that Ras Al Khaimah has to offer. It certainly helps that our natural assets include 64km (40 miles) of pristine beaches,
the highest mountain in the UAE, hot springs, rich flora and fauna and a unique terracotta desert. “Our goals are ambitious, but they are realistic and achievable. They are based on thorough studies and research into consumer trends and careful analysis of our current situation, including international market forecasts. RAKTDA also supports the RAK Government development objectives, which are a Sustainable Competitive Economy, Excellent & Pioneering Government, Balanced Social & Cultural Development, Innovative Talents, High Quality of Life and Outstanding Environment.” In order to achieve its vision outlined above, RAKTDA needs the support of the government entities and the industry as a whole. The authority has identified sustainable tourism as a major pillar of its tourism strategy, meaning it will be able to protect its assets in a sustainable way, something Haitham is keen to point out.
“At the heart of our approach are strategic partnerships. If we are to achieve our vision for 2019 and beyond, we need the full support of our industry partners and government stakeholders to align their activities with ours. “RAKTDA is a proud sponsor of the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. By identifying sustainable tourism as a major pillar of our tourism strategy, not only will we protect and conserve these assets in a sustainable way, but we will also achieve our targets for visitor arrivals, employment creation, and contribution to GDP.” Discussing his thoughts on the state of the tourism industry currently, Haitham believes that protecting the environment is vital whilst also trying to increase visitor arrivals. There are many concerns arising and he emphasises why the authority has made a strong commitment to sustainable tourism. “Above all, the major
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Tourism Promotion CEO of the Year - UAE
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challenge of tourism is increasing visitor arrivals while protecting the environment. Major cities are becoming overcrowded and urbanisation causes problems involving waste management. Concerns about pollution are rising, and other challenges of tourism are related to dynamic growth management, climate change, poverty alleviation, support for conservation and health, safety and security. This is why we have made such a strong commitment to sustainable tourism through our partnership with the UNWTO.” Being CEO means Haitham has to ensure everyone in his organisation understands the vision and how they will achieve it. He discusses his leadership style below, looking to be an inspiration to his team and leading by example. All the major assets of a good CEO are demonstrated by Haitham, notably being trustworthy and loyal, as these are seen as imperative in order to deliver the results he and his team strive to achieve. “My leadership style means I strive to lead by example. This involves having an insatiable hunger for success, passion for what I do and an even greater level of perseverance. I also think it is important for leaders to be trustworthy, loyal, committed and visible. I keep my team motivated by working hands-on, maximising each person’s unique strengths, valuing their input, recognizing their contributions and communicating with them, which is of the utmost importance. As long as I am capable of inspiring my team to deliver and drive results, I feel that I am on the right track.” There have been many challenges and opportunities which have arisen since Haitham became CEO of RAKTDA. Haitham believes his previous success is his biggest challenge, as his recent success has seen expectations of him become greater. The pressure is now on to deliver large-scale projects to the quality of standard that the CEO and his team have previously done so.
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“The biggest challenge is that by achieving so much and setting an example for the destination’s stakeholders, the pressure is now on me and my team to deliver large-scale projects on time and to the excellent quality that has become synonymous with RAKTDA. I always say that we have worked very hard and moved at a very fast pace. There is no room for slowing down, and we will continue to work even harder.” Regarding the future of RAKTDA and future projects, Haitham observes that the authority has already achieved some amazing success. As the fastest growing tourism sector in the UAE, with the emphasis on an increase in visitors from Europe. There is already progress concerning upcoming projects, including the world’s longest zip-line and an eco-friendly observation deck. “RAKTDA has already achieved amazing accomplishments to date. Ras Al Khaimah is now the fastest growing tourism sector in the GCC region, following increased year-on- year visitor numbers during Q1 2017. In 2016, Ras Al Khaimah welcomed over 820,000 visitors, a year-onyear increase of 10.9%. Surges from key source markets include a 35% increase in visitors from the UK, 28% from India and 25% from Germany. We also have the third highest occupancy rate in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).” “One of the biggest success stories of 2016 was our Via Ferrata (iron path), which is a climbing ground with 3 zip lines ranging from 70m to 300m long, on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak at 1,934 metres above sea level. During its first month, the attraction generated AED 128,000 and 320 bookings. Bookings over the same period averaged 81%, with weekends achieving 94%. The target is set to establish Jebel Jais as a mixed-use destination with a number of unique accommodation offerings, from luxury mountain resorts and glamping experiences through to hiking and biking trails. In fact, development is well under
way on the world’s longest and fastest zipline and an eco-friendly observation deck. The Jebel Jais Observation Deck will serve as a base camp for hikers and bikers looking to test their fitness levels. But the appeal will extend beyond the very active, letting visitors take in stunning sea and mountain views and Ras Al Khaimah’s magnificent sunrises and sunsets. The facility, which will also feature a multi-purpose events arena, picnic areas, numerous walking paths and a dedicated food truck zone, is due to open to the public in October.” Work never stops for Haitham and his team however, with him noting that there is still much more to aspire to in the longterm, with hard work required to meet the ambitious targets the team has set themselves. “Yet, there is still so much to aspire to. My goal is to ensure Ras Al Khaimah’s long-term sustainability while welcoming
one million visitors by the end of 2018 and 2.5 million by 2025. I want the world to know our emirate is the de facto destination for authentic Arabian experiences. “For 2017, we have set ourselves some ambitious targets, but they are targets we are optimistic about. In addition to visitor numbers of 900,000, our goal is to increase the length of stay to 3.4 days, a growth of 2.4% on 2016, and contribute AED 1.1bn to GDP, up 2.1%. These goals will be supported through the continuation of various targeted campaigns across our source markets along with the openings of new offices in KSA, Nordic/ Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. These three offices will drive further growth from already popular destinations.” As CEO, moving forward the focus will be on Haitham and he tells us what plans he has to
build upon his current success, both personally and for the authority. Haitham is always looking to learn and adapt to the ever-changing tourism industry. “My plans are to continue to learn from what I do every day, the wisdom of our Ruler and learn from my team. As people continue to travel we will always see an evolution in the way people choose their holidays, book and pay. It is critical that we are always on top of those everchanging trends to ensure our success is sustainable for now and in the future.”
Contact: info@raktda.com; Website: en.rasalkhaimah.ae
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