|
The Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries FNB Business Excellence Awards is an annual competition held to highlight, recognise and promote the Italian-South African business community’s contribution to the economic growth and development of South Africa. The competition is open to both business people of Italian descent as well as business enterprises which are either Italian or simply enhance the image of the Italian- South African business community via trade with Italy or by way of their product’s ‘italianita’.
In 2009 Sandro Scherf of Pilot Crushtec has won the Italian Business Person of the Year award for 2009; Ferrero Ithemba RSA, MD Nick Terry, was awarded Business Enterprise of the Year award, while Stefano Riccardi of CKR Consulting Engineers is 2009’s Young Upcoming Entrepreneur of the Year. The Lifetime Recognition Award was awarded to Ferdinando Riccardi, while Claudio Conficoni of CMC di Ravenna was awarded the Honorary Chairperson’s Award that was presented to him by the Italian Ambassador to South Africa, the Honourable Elio Menzione. The announcement was made on 20 October at the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries FNB Business Excellence Awards 2009 at the Theatre on the Track in Kyalami.
“We are proud to partner with the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries and to have sponsored this year’s awards function. We recognise the valuable and continued contributions communities such as this make to the South African economy, as well as the strong entrepreneurial focus that drives them. The awards ceremony acknowledges those individuals and companies, who have over the past year excelled in their respective business sectors,” says Mike Vacy Lyle, Head of FNB Commercial Banking Sales and Client Relationships. Towards the middle of each year the Chamber, via its member database and the media, calls for nomination in the three competitive categories which each nominee has to formally accept. On acceptance the nominees are requested to furnish preliminary data which is used by the judging panel to select a shortlist of finalists. Once the short list is finalised, the judging panel conducts site visits to the relevant places of business, interviews the candidates and analyses the financial records and other materials of the business. Aspects like financial success, size and sustainability of company growth, entrepreneurial skills, innovation, vision and leadership qualities, business ethics, staff development and BEE are all taken into consideration.
“Over the past ten years, this competition has acquired equity and has seen increased involvement and support of important and successful business personalities whilst becoming a highlight event on the Italian business community’s calendar. These awards are as much South African as Italian because the Italian community is committed to SA and their tangible contributions has had a significant impact on the South African economy,” says Gianni Mariano, chairman of the organising committee.
|
