EY has announced the finalists for the Southern Africa Chapter of the World Entrepreneur Award for 2015 in the Master, Exceptional and Emerging categories.
The award programme is marking its 18th anniversary of recognising outstanding entrepreneurs for their vision, innovation, courage, and leadership. These entrepreneurial individuals build and grow successful businesses that influence the way we live, the products and services we depend on, and the economic vibrancy of our local communities and global markets.
CJ Kujenga, Strategic Growth Markets Africa Leader says: “It is an honour to celebrate these finalists, as they possess the qualities we look for in owners of high-growth companies – the ability to take risks and start businesses and tireless commitment to ensuring the success of those businesses, despite the challenges. We look forward to recognising these individuals’ impact in building a better working world.”
In alphabetical order, the 2015 finalists under the different categories are:
Master category: honours individuals whose achievements have made them world-class entrepreneurs.
– Ahmed Mahomed – Datacentrix
– Arnold Prinsloo – Eskort
– Johann Vorster – Clover
– Roland Sassoon – Sasfin
Exceptional category: recognises individuals who have shown exceptional tenacity and determination in building a successful and established enterprise, that is well on its way to becoming a market leader in its sector.
– Angela Dick – Transman
– Gil Oved & Ran Neu-Ner – The Creative Counsel
– John Nicolakakis – Roman’s Pizza
– Nadir Khamissa and Shaazim Khamissa – Hello Group
– Dr Tim Tebeila – Sekoko Group
Emerging category: credits those individuals building young businesses with high potential.
– Khudusela Pitje – New GX Capital Holdings
– Lex van Wyk – Teraco Data Environments
– Magnus Rademeyer & Charl Fouche – AfriGIS
The winner will be announced at a gala dinner on 3 November at EY’s Strategic Growth Forum Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The World Entrepreneur Award culminates in an annual gala banquet in Monte Carlo in June each year, where winning entrepreneurs in the Master category from over 50 countries around the world compete for one of the most coveted global business awards.
Previous winners from Africa include, Dr. James Mwangi, CEO and MD of Kenya’s Equity Bank Limited who took the 2012 global title, and the late Bill Lynch of Imperial Holdings, who, in 2006, went on to become the first ever South African to win the global event in Monte Carlo.