Shortlist announced for the fifth European Families in Business Awards
The cream of continental business talent will be celebrated at the fifth annual European Families in Business Awards in Berlin on 21 June.
The cream of continental business talent will be celebrated at the fifth annual European Families in Business Awards in Berlin on 21 June.
Family business leaders and business school experts on the judging panel for CampdenFB have shortlisted the 30 best of the best from more than 250 nominations across six categories. Close to 1,000 companies have been nominated since 2012.
Six winners will be announced during a gala dinner at Hotel De Rome in Berlin on 21 June. The prestigious awards are held in conjunction with the European Families in Business Conference, in association with Societe Generale Private Banking.
Director Jean-François Mazaud said Societe Generale is "very proud to be associated for the fifth consecutive year with the celebration of European family businesses.
"They are truly the backbone of the European economy and must be praised for their critical role in terms of job creation, social cohesion and innovation.
"Congratulations to all the finalists and we look forward to meeting the winners in Berlin."
Editor Nicholas Moody said CampdenFB had received an excellent number of entries this year and the calibre of entries had again made the judging process a very difficult one.
“This is the fifth year we’ve held the European Families in Business Awards and it’s brilliant to have such great businesses competing across the six categories,” he said. “We’re also looking forward to honouring our 24 past winners who have helped make the awards so special over the past five years."
If you would like to join in on the awards, please contact Simi Dhillon to indicate how many people you would like to register, email: simidhillon@campdenwealth.com, or phone: +44 (0) 203 763 2818.
Top Family Business
The Clausen family behind Danfoss Group (Denmark) was named Top Family Business of the Year 2015. The five shortlisted businesses in 2016 are:
- Europa-Park (Germany)
- Royal De Heus (Netherlands)
- Starhotels (Italy)
- Tous (Spain)
- Warburtons (UK)
Pentland Group (UK) won the Top Family Business of the Year award in 2014 and Broman Group (Finland) won in 2013.
Top Family Business Leader
Ana Botín – Santander (Spain) took home the Top Family Business Leader of the Year award last year. This year’s nominees hoping to do the same include:
- Said Darwazah – Hikma (UK)
- Nayla Hayek– Swatch (Switzerland)
- Aditya Mittal – Arcelor Mittal (India)
- Nadja Swarovski – Swarovski (Austria)
- Jonathan Warburton - Warburtons (UK)
Hayek and Swarovski were also nominated last year. Nicolas Boel – Solvay (Belgium) was awarded Top Family Business Leader in 2014 while Marie-Christine Coisne-Roquette – Sonepar (France) won in 2013.
Top Family Business Rising Star
Catharina Prym – Prym (Germany) was hailed as the Top Family Business Rising Star of the Year for 2015. The shortlist for the leaders of tomorrow for 2016 consists of:
- Alexander Alfred Charles de Carvalho – Heineken (Netherlands)
- Nicola Drago – Zodiak Active (Italy)
- Felix Fiege – Fiege Group (Germany)
- Giulia Molteni – Molteni (Italy)
- Bris Rocher – Yves Rocher (France)
Daniel and Andreas Sennheiser - Sennheiser (Germany) were jointly named Family Business Rising Star in 2014. Giuseppe and Marco Lavazza - Lavazza (Italy) were both awarded in 2013.
Top Next-Generation Entrepreneur
Last year the Top Next-Generation Entrepreneur Award went to Hugo Peris – Loop Therapeutics (Spain). This year’s nominees include:
- Patrick Kern – cor Juliett (Germany)
- Michael Mack – VR Coaster (Germany)
- Julian Marwitz – Arineos (Germany)
- Danielle Ryan – Roads Group (Ireland)
- Cameron Saul – Bottletop (UK)
Ryan is back for her second consecutive nomination.
Top Sustainable Family Business
Illy Caffe (Italy) won the Top Sustainable Family Business of the Year for 2015. The contenders for 2016 are as follows:
- Faber-Castell (Germany)
- Kone (Finland)
- Lavazza (Italy)
- Messer Group (Germany)
- Ulstein Group (Norway)
Faber-Castell, Kone and Ulstein Group were also nominated in 2015. Acciona (Spain) won the accolade in 2014 after Vestergaard Frandsen (Switzerland) won in 2013.
Top Non-Family Director
Jochen Zeitz – Kering (France) was named 2015 Top Non-Family Director of the Year. For 2016, the nominees are:
- Jan Kollros - Adbodmer (Switzerland)
- Claude Pierre Ehlinger – Louis Dreyfus Group (Switzerland)
- Borje Ekholm – Patricia Industries (Sweden)
- Hartmut Jenner – Karcher (Germany)
- Monica Mondardini – CIR Group (Italy)
Peter Armitage – OCS (UK) won the prize in 2014 and Michele Norsa – Ferragamo Group (Italy) won in 2013.
More information on the awards can be found at www.campdenfb.com/fib-awards.
