Top directors honoured in IoD awards
THIS year’s West Midlands Director of the Year is Andy Williamson, chief executive of Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
The presentation was made at an awards ceremony organised by the Institute of Directors at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham.
Mr Williams, who also named winner of the Third Sector Award, will now go forward to a national awards scheme in the autumn, as will six category winners.
Judges hailed his hard work and enterprise which has taken the organisation from loss-making to a multi-million pound successful business, independent of the NHS. It has invested heavily in aircraft, medical training and other equipment.
A registered charity, it relies totally on public donations, fund-raising activities and sponsorship.
Mr Williamson was competing against Peter Johnson, of The Meningitis Trust and Mark Richardson, Worcester Business School.
Mohammed Hussain, of Mobile Fun, took the Young Directors Award against Clive Bawden of Catalyst Corporate Finance and Alex Bishop from Shoosmiths.
At the age of 31, Mr Hussain has taken the business to over £7m turnover and to be one of the UK’s leading internet retailers of mobile phone accessories.
He has opened offices in France and Germany and the business continued to grow at a phenomenal rate through the recession.
The Family Business Award went to Vicki Derry, who, with her husband Paul and son Max, has built a manufacturing concern supplying the automotive industry with specialist waste-free packaging solutions.
Runners up were Ann Corstophine of City Spirit (St Pauls) and Balwinder Dhanoa, Progress Care Solutions.
Winner of the Small to Medium Enterprise Award was Peter Tibke, Practice Director for Lumsdons Solicitors, who beat off the challenge of Paul Hooper-Keeley, Intervallum, and Dale Parmenter, DRP Group.
The judging panel praised Mr Tibke’s natural management skills. He took over the role two years ago at a low point and quickly transformed the profitability and success of the firm.
Victory in the Large Company category went to Craig Errington, chief executive of the Wesleyan Assurance Society in a close run contest with Mike Taylor, of Innovise.
The judges noted: “During the recession, Craig made the bold decision to continue to manage the business in line with his long-term strategy for growth. It now turns over more than £250m and is in sound financial health.”
Environmental Leadership was awarded to Simon Linford, managing director of C-Zero, a reflection of his “personal passion as an advocate of the green agenda and sustainability”.
The firm builds low-carbon private homes using sustainable building materials.
The Chairman’s Award, presented by IoD regional chairman John Rider to an individual who, he feels, is deserving of special recognition, honoured John Morris, head of government and industry affairs at Birmingham Airport.
Mr Rider said: “Ever positive in his day job, he is never afraid to argue for the long-term prosperity of our region but still finds time to do some great work with local schools such as nearby Small Heath.
“He is an inspiration to us all and we wish him well in his commitment to the much-needed runway extension that is so vital for inward investment and jobs.”
The University of Wolverhampton was Overall Sponsor of the awards, with support from Irwin Mitchell, Gap Personnel, Turkish Airlines, Peugeot and TheBusinessDesk.com.
