The Africa CEO Forum Awards 2012: Four Winners From The African Business World Recognized For Their Dedication To Promoting Growth In Africa
The first Africa CEO Forum has honoured four representatives from among the businesses and investors who have contributed to the dynamism and momentum of African growth.
Because their achievements provide inspiration to competitive African companies able to develop into companies competing in the international arena, the four winners have been chosen for their commitment and their accomplishments in four key areas:
Promotion of Africa's private sector
Strengthening regional integration
Development of intra-African trade
Social and environmental responsibility
The jury was made up of 12 well-known figures from the African business, consulting and media worlds, including: Tim Turner, Director of the Private Sector Department of the AfDB, Andrew Alli, CEO of Africa Finance Corp, Marie-Christine Saragosse, President of the Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF)...
THE FOUR PRIZEWINNERS
1. BEST AFRICAN INVESTMENT FUND
This award recognizes the capital investor that has invested most in African companies in the past year.
Award criteria:
Volume of financing in private African companies in the past year
Number of companies financed in the past year
Number of financial operations conducted
Africa's share of the capital investor’s global activity
The winner of this category is the company ABRAAJ. It is the most important private equity fund in the world specialized in emerging countries counting 36 offices around the world and grossing 6 billion euros under management.
2. MULTINATIONAL IN AFRICA OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes the international corporation boasting the greatest expansion in Africa over the last two years.
Award criteria:
Number of organic or external growth operations in the last two years
Number of African countries in which the company operates (with a minimum of five)
Share of turnover achieved in Africa in relation to its global turnover
Number of African employees on the continent
Diversity of its activities in Africa
The winner of this category is OLAM. The Singapore-based Olam is one of the biggest agricultural commodity traders in the world. It had 11 billion euros of revenue between 2011 and 2012 and 17.000 employees. Developing close partnerships in Africa while keeping its roots in Nigeria, OLAM got nearly 3 billion euros of revenue in Africa during the same period.
3. PAN-AFRICAN COMPANY OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes the African company that has achieved the greatest expansion on the continent.
Award criteria:
Number and size of the external growth operations achieved by the company in the two last years in other African countries
Number of African countries in which the company is present (a minimum of five)
Africa's share in the company's global activity (outside its country of origin)
The winner of this category is ECOBANK. Here is the group which has pioneered the idea of a pan-African strategy. Expanding its activities over 32 countries including nearly all of 'Middle Africa'. 11.000 employees proudly work for this group that bought Oceanic Bank, one of Nigeria's biggest banks, at the end of 2011.
4. AFRICAN CEO OF THE YEAR
This prize is awarded to the African CEO of the Year for their strategy, leadership, governance and financial performance.
Award criteria:
The CEO's vision and leadership
Pan-African scope of the strategy employed
Type of modern governance and financial transparency
Quality of social, human and environmental policy
The winner of this category is Tewolde Gebre Mariam, Chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, one of the most dynamic and profitable airlines in Africa reaching 80 destinations. It was the first African company flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in September 2012.
For additional information, please contact:
Jeune Afrique - Media Relations - Partnerships African Development Bank
Vanessa RALLI - v.ralli@jeuneafrique.com Press Office - press@afdb.org
Tel.: + 33 1 44 30 19 65 /Mobile: + 33 6 61 18 06 52 Tel.:+216 71 10 29 16/Mobile: +216 98 70 22 37.
Thank you.
The AFRICA CEO FORUM is organized by Groupe Jeune Afrique, a leading international news group and publisher of Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report, Africa’s best-selling international magazines, and by Rainbow Unlimited, a Swiss company specializing in the organization of business promotional events, notably linking Africa and Europe, and manager of the Swiss-African Business Circle (SABC).