LADbible founder crowned northern EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
SOLLY Solomou, founder of The LADbible Group, was named the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 North at an awards dinner in Manchester last night.
Solomou, who also took home the Technology and Media award, was praised by the judges for the way he has grown the company globally, his plans for further global expansion, and his attention to detail in building the team. Judges highlighted the company’s cutting-edge approach, and use of technology and called The LADbible the “ultimate disruptor”.
Founded in 2012 by Solly Solomou and Arian Kalantari, TheLADbible Group has become one of the best-loved media brands for a youth audience. It has grown from a single Facebook page to a multichannel, multi-brand portfolio which reaches over 150 million people a week across the website, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Vine, YouTube, Apple TV and iOS app.
Victoria Price, EY’s North Entrepreneur Of The Year Leader, said: “Solly’s clear long-term strategy has been the driving force behind The LADbible Group’s phenomenal growth and the company is ideally positioned for further expansion over the coming years. He is leading the way in the use of technology to build communities and is creating significant, scaleable growth. This is a company that’s set to explode.”
Entrepreneurs from the North West dominated the awards, winning seven of the 10 categories. The other North West winners were:
• Business Services award: Ged Mason, CEO of the Morson Group in Salford.
• Healthcare Services award: Naser Fouad, chairman and CEO of St George Healthcare Group in Warrington.
• Innovation award: Reg Rix and Louis Rix, joint managing directors of Carfinance247 in Manchester.
• Master award: Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula Business Services in Manchester.
• Private-Equity Backed award: Matthew Hirst, CEO of Utiligroup in Chorley.
• Retail Services award: Jennifer Atkinson, CEO of ITC Luxury Travel Group in Chester.
Each of the winners were judged and selected from 40 finalist companies from across the North West, Yorkshire and North East. All of the North of England winners will go on to represent the region at the UK finals in October 2016.
