Region’s top directors celebrated at IOD awards
GRAEME Hall, managing director of Leeds-based Brandon Medical, was named IoD Yorkshire Director of the Year last night at the Institute of Directors’ Director of the Year Awards.
Other winners included Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire, who was given the Judge’s Special Award in recognition of his work to rebrand and re-launch the tourist board; and Martin Port, managing director of Masternaut Three X, who was named Entrepreneur of the Year.
Amar Latif, founder and managing director of Traveleyes, a specialist travel firm that provides holidays for the blind or visually impaired, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in acknowledgement of his company’s contribution to the lives of people who are blind or partially sighted.
Mr Hall beat off stiff competition to receive the Director of the Year accolade thanks to his ambitious target of doubling the size of the business, which manufactures and installs medical equipment worldwide, every three years.
The awards, which are now in their sixth year, were presented by Jon Hammond at a black tie ceremony at Saviles Hall in Leeds.
Other winners from across the region included Young Director of the Year, Simon Gray of Boost Drinks, who has increased year-on-year sales at the company by 26%, and Philip Barty, group chief executive of Autism Plus, who was awarded the Not for Profit & Voluntary Sector Director of the Year accolade after tripling the organisation in size since his arrival.
IoD Yorkshire’s new SME Director of the Year title was also awarded to Wold Top Brewery director, Tom Mellor; Sue Holmes, an associate director at Deloitte, was named Business Adviser of the Year; and Non-Executive Director of the Year was Peter Birtles, of Sheffield Forgemasters.
John Thompson, regional director for the IoD in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This was a superb night that celebrated the outstanding achievements of some of Yorkshire’s most dynamic business leaders.
“This year’s entries were particularly strong and I want to congratulate all those who made it onto this year’s shortlist and acknowledge the success of the winners whose hard work and innovation achieves incredible results for their companies and contributes to the prosperity of this region.”
