LONDON and WINDSOR, England, June 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Ross Williams, CEO and Co-founder of Global Personals Ltd, one of the fastest growing digital media companies worldwide, has been crowned Young Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors (IoD), the company announced today.

The IoD Director of the Year awards recognise outstanding leadership from across the UK. The 'Young Director' category acknowledges the achievements of directors under the age of 42. Williams was named joint winner of the Young Director of the Year award for London and the South East alongside Amit Bhatia, Vice Chairman of Hope Construction Materials.

Williams founded Global Personals in 2003 with Steve Pammenter. Under Williams' leadership, the company has grown to provide lifestyle services to over 35 million consumers in seven international territories, achieving annualised revenues of £50 million. The company is also part of Tech City UK's Future Fifty.

Serial entrepreneur Williams also holds the titles of Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Great British Entrepreneur, E-commerce.

Roger Broad, Director of the IoD South, said:

"Our winners represent the very best attributes of the region's business community. They are driven, successful and an example to all who seek to succeed in commerce.

"Given the record number of nominations we received this year, to win through is a tremendous achievement for Ross, and reflects well on him, his company and his staff."

Ross Williams commented:

"It's an honour to have been named Young Director of the Year by an institute as prestigious as the IoD. To have been considered among such an inspiring group of directors in a region as large and instrumental to the success of the UK economy as London and the South East is a privilege.

"I truly believe that the success of any director is down to the team they surround themselves with; that the work of myself and my team has been recognised by the UK's foremost authority and the voice of British business is a testament to our winning formula of innovation and determination."

About Global Personals Ltd 

Launched in 2003, Global Personals Ltd is one of the fastest growing privately owned online dating companies worldwide. With annualised revenues of £50 million, the company currently employ over 180 full time staff and owns and operates an online dating and gaming portfolio including JustSingles.com, DatingAgency.com and SmoochBingo.co.uk, whilst B2B service, White Label Dating®, offers a platform for brands and individuals to power their own dating sites. White Label Dating provide the dating software, membership database, payment processing, customer support, hosting infrastructure and more.

Global Personals Ltd is part of Tech City UK's Future Fifty programme and was named as a 'Company to Inspire Britain' delivering significant impact to the UK economy by the London Stock Exchange Group in 2013. The company has also received a collection of additional accolades including fastest growing company in the South East, UK, in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA (2010-2013), The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 (2013) and European Media Momentum Top 50 (2011- 2014).

Press contact: 

Hannah Flaherty
hflaherty@globalpersonals.co.uk
+44(0)1753-271280

SOURCE Global Personals Ltd