The Boldness in Business Awards recognise companies and individuals who have challenged the status quo and taken calculated risks to drive their business forward in the face of current economic uncertainty. This year’s keynote speech was given by PUMA CEO, Jochen Zeitz, who addressed an audience including Elisabeth Murdoch, Matthew Freud, Stephen Fry and Jana Bennett.
The evening’s winners were:
• Driver of Change: Apple
• Environment: Jain Irrigation Systems
• Corporate Responsibility: Marks and Spencer
• Emerging Markets: Mediatek
• Entrepreneurship: Free
• Newcomer: Groupon
• Person of the Year: Alan Mulally, Ford
Stephen Fry collected Apple’s Driver of Change award, one of the company’s most high profile advocates. The judges were impressed by the phenomenal success of Apple’s iPad launch and the company’s unique ability to stay ahead of its rivals through innovative and directional product development.
The judges for this year’s awards were:
• Lionel Barber, Editor, Financial Times
• Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman and CEO, ArcelorMittal
• John Authers, Head of the Lex Column, Financial Times
• J Frank Brown, Dean, INSEAD
• Luke Johnson, Chairman, Risk Capital Partners
• Anne Méaux, Founder & President, Image Sept
• Terry Smith, Chief Executive, Tullet Prebon and founder of Fundsmith
• Leo Johnson, Partner, PWC
Lionel Barber, editor, Financial Times, said: “We’re now in the third year of the FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards, and while the market remains undeniably challenging, our shortlisted companies and individuals have displayed an inspiring ability to innovate and drive change. I would like to congratulate all of the winners tonight for their dedication and boldness in driving their businesses above and beyond the competition.”
Speaking at the award ceremony, Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman and CEO, ArcelorMittal, said: “This has been another strong year for the FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards with an impressive array of winners and shortlisted companies. All the companies are inspirational and we should pause to consider what it takes to be bold like them. Think of the decisions that faced Alan Mulally at Ford when he chose to radically restructure the business or the strength of vision that inspired Apple to be a pioneer in the tablet market. They have all taken challenging, perhaps at times controversial paths, but ones that have ultimately proved highly successful. It takes courage to do this and I hope these awards will act as an inspiration to others.”
