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Institute of Directors North West Director of the Year Awards 2006

Fiona Bruce at IoD Director of the Year Awards 2006

Broadcaster Fiona Bruce was the awards host at the Institute of Directors Director of the Year Awards 2006 last night. Over 650 guests from across the North West’s business community gathered at the City of Manchester Stadium to hear her speak and watch star performers win the coveted title of IoD Director of the Year for 2006.

Speeches were also given by Miles Templeman, director general of the IoD, Brian Colquhoun, regional director at Yorkshire Bank and Steve Purdham, founder of SurfControl Plc and winner of the first IoD North West Director of the Year Award 2004. Thirteen winners were selected from thirty three finalists by the judging panel.

Cheshire Young Director of the Year won by Sat Dhaiwal, Chief Executive Officer of Warrington based A-Plant (Ashtead Plant Hire Co Ltd.) and presented by Alistair Mackintosh, chief executive of the City of Manchester Stadium. (Finalists: Matthew Sanders, Joint Managing Director of de Poel Consulting Ltd. and James Timpson, Managing Director of Timpsons.)

Cheshire Director of the Year presented by Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency to Charles Oulton, managing director of Altrincham based Halo Living Ltd. (Finalists: Charlie Buckwell, chief executive of Complete Medical Group and Mike Newton, chief executive of Anglo Design Holdings Plc.)

Cumbria Young Director of the Year presented by Ann Jordan, Chairman of the Institute of Directors in the North West to Sarah Dunning, chief executive of Westmorland Limited. (Finalists: James Francis, managing director of Kingmoor Technical Services and Paul Hopper, managing director of Northern Security Ltd.)

Cumbria Director of the Year presented by Sue Craven, managing director of Armstrong Craven to Andrew Tinkler, chairman of W A Developments International Limited / Eddie Stobart Limited. (Finalist: Sam Rayner, managing director of Lakeland Limited.)

Lancashire Young Director of the Year presented by Professor Cary Cooper, Pro Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University to Helen Colley, managing director of Farmhouse Fare Ltd. (Finalists: Mark Mills, ceo of Cardpoint Plc and Ges Ratcliffe, chief executive of Debtmatters Group Ltd.)

Lancashire Director of the Year presented by Paul Harrop, UK sales & marketing director of Daimler Chrysler/Mercedes to Tony Attard, group chief executive of Panaz Ltd. (Finalists: David Jones, Director at Invotec and Richard Tang, managing director of Zen Internet Ltd.)

Liverpool Young Director of the Year presented by Sudarghara Dusanj, joint managing director of Cains Brewery to Matt Johnson, managing director of Mando Group. (Finalists: Tom Dawes, managing director of Aerogistics Holdings Ltd. and Ben Hatton, managing director of Rippleffect.)

Liverpool Director of the Year Award presented by Bron Ellis, marketing director of B2B Portfolio Ltd. to Neil Pakey, managing director at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. (Finalist: Deborah Shackleton, chief executive of The Riverside Group.)

Manchester Young Director of the Year Award presented by Christine Oxenburgh, partner at Betesh Fox to Jennie Johnson, managing director of Kids Allowed. (Finalists: Sandy Chadha, managing director at Supreme Imports and Scott Fletcher, chairman of Associated Network Solutions Plc.)

Manchester Director of the Year Award in association with the Manchester Evening News and presented by Maria McGeoghan, deputy editor of the MEN to Mark Ferguson, Chief Executive of Renovo. The award was accepted by his co-founder Dr Sharon O’Kane. (Finalists: Rob Cotton, Chief Executive of NCC Group plc and Neil Prosser, Managing Director of Flannels.)

The International Business Director of the Year 2006 is Chris Purslow, managing director of Wigan based Willand UV Systems Ltd (trading as atg-willand). The award was presented by Clive Drinkwater, North West regional director of UKTI. (Finalists: Tony Attard, group chief executive of Panaz Ltd. and Ned Montarello, ceo of ThinkSmart Ltd.)

The Rising Star Award, sponsored by VLM and awarded in association with EN Magazine, recognises an individual or a group showing exceptional promise and an entrepreneurial spirit whilst age 25 or younger. It was won by Russell Hirst (24) managing director of Manchester based Valueflora.com, part of Value Everything Ltd. presented by David Nye, regional manager UK of VLM. (Finalists: Lex Deak (23) managing director of Sell it Shack, and Chris Morris (24) managing director of Peppered Sprout.)

The 2006 IoD North West Director of The Year is Andrew Tinkler, chairman of W A Developments International Limited / Eddie Stobart Limited. This is the first time the award has been presented to a director from Cumbria. Andrew was presented with his award by David Thorburn, chief operating officer of Yorkshire Bank.

Laura Wolfe, Regional Director of the IoD in the North West;
“The awards aim to showcase directors who are making a difference within their respective industries and to highlight best practice from which we can all learn. Every one of the nominees are winners in their own right and their experiences and views are very important. Each has achieved so much. Business is very much alive and doing well in the North West and we aim to prove it yet again on September 20th 2007, the date for next year’s awards.”

Brian Colquhoun, regional director at Yorkshire Bank, added:
“We are honoured to be part of the driving force behind this excellent initiative and are delighted to be sponsoring all the IoD North West Director of the Year Awards for the third year running. This provides a great opportunity for staff and businesses across the region to showcase their achievements and receive the recognition they so richly deserve.”

“Experts at our network of more than 80 cutting edge Financial Solutions Centres across the UK provide support and guidance both financially and strategically to many entrepreneurs – be it as business or as private, high-net worth individual customers. Through building close relationships, we understand and appreciate how demanding striving to realise your ambitions can be. My heartfelt congratulations therefore go to all shortlisted and final candidates, coming this far is a huge result in itself.”

Headline Sponsor was Yorkshire Bank, for the third year running, with event partners Armstrong Craven, Betesh Fox, the City of Manchester Stadium, Daimler Chrysler Fleet Management, Mercedes-Benz, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, UKTI and VLM.
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Notes to editors

BIOGRAPHIES of all the winners and finalists and PHOTOS (300dpi+) at www.marketingprojects.co.uk/news.asp?clientid=69

Anyone could nominate a director whose business was based in the North West. Neither had to be an IoD member. New, special awards this year are The Rising Star Award (under 25) sponsored by VLM and the International Business Director of the Year Award in association with UKTI.

The Judging Panel was chaired by Ann Jordan – Chair, IoD North West with Professor Cary Cooper CBE – Pro Vice Chancellor (External Relations), Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, Lancaster University, Jane Davies – Chief Executive, Manchester Science Park Ltd. Bill Docherty – Founder, Persuasion, Steve Purdham – founder, SurfControl Plc. Winner of the IoD North West Director of the Year Award 2004. Sudarghara Dusanj, Joint Managing Director of Cains Brewery, Liverpool, Mark Fuller, Chief Executive of Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF), Edwin Booth, Chairman of E H Booth and Co Ltd. Winner of the IoD’s North West Director of the Year Award 2005 and Sue Craven, managing director of Armstrong Craven – consultants for the 2005 and 2006 Awards.

More info available on finalists from www.marketingprojects.co.uk/news.asp?clientid=5

Yorkshire Bank, part of the National Australia Bank Group, combines global strength with the local service of a well established regional bank. It was founded in 1859 in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Today, the Bank has more than 230 branches, a strong personal customer base and a growing business capability in the North of England and the Midlands. Yorkshire Bank’s innovative Financial Solutions Centres (FSCs) were launched across the UK in 2005, offering customers a highly integrated business and private banking service. Yorkshire Bank is a trading name of Clydesdale Bank PLC. More information at www.yorkshirebank.co.uk

Armstrong Craven was established in 1990 to provide independent Executive Research services to clients on an international basis, a cost-effective, proactive method of resourcing for boardroom, senior and middle management roles. As a result of continued growth and development, the company is now Europe’s leading Executive Research, Knowledge & Information and Career Transition services company with a global client base and offices in Manchester and London. Armstrong Craven’s IT department worked with the IoD on the Director of the Year awards to create a bespoke web site to allow on line nominations, booking facilities and also to provide general information about the awards dinner.
More information at www.armstrongcraven.com

The Institute of Directors is a non-political independent organisation with 55,000 members. In addition to its wide range of business services, the IoD provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its members to government and key opinion-formers. It also brings the experience of business leaders to bear on the conduct of public affairs.
More information at www.iod.com/northwest

Contact Points:
Jane Harrad-Roberts, North West IoD Press Officer
Mobile and out of hours: 07785 395705
Email: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk

Laura Wolfe, Regional Director North West
Tel. 0161 209 3152
Mobile and out of hours: 07973 332564
Email. laura.wolfe@iod.com
Web. www.iod.com/northwest

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