One Week Left to Vote for the National Business Awards Leader of the Year

LONDON, October 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

*Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk  to vote*

*Winner to be revealed at the gala dinner and award ceremony on 12 November 2013*

There is only one week left to cast a vote for the National Business Award's Leader of the Year Award, to help decide Britain's leading CEO. Phil Couchman, CEO of DHL Express, Richard Cousins, CEO of Compass Group, Harriet Green, CEO of Thomas Cook, Valerie Soranno Keating, CEO of Barclaycard and Mike Tobin, CEO of TelecityGroup are all in the running to take home the prestigious award.

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The winner will be decided by a combination of a public vote and a peer ballot of around 40 CEOs and business thought leaders. These judges include well-known industry names such as Kanya King, CEO of the MOBO Organisation, John Cridland, Director General of the CBI and Baroness Virginia Bottomley of Nettlestone. In the meantime, the business community can join our voting panel by visiting http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk/leader2013. The winner will be revealed on 12 November at the Award ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane.  

The Leader of the Year Award recognises the personal imprint of the UK's most high profile leaders on the culture and success of their organisations and the industries they operate in. Judges look at how these leaders have demonstrated the best balance between traditional board values and the new business environment - achieving measured and sustainable growth or driving improved performance. When considering the finalists' achievements judges consider aspects including robust strategies, staff engagement, financial performance, customer insight and collaboration.

Alex Evans, Programme Director of the National Business Awards said: "Response to our Leader of the Year campaign has been fantastic so far and we're calling on the rest of the business community to get their vote in before it closes at midnight on 30 October. It will be fascinating to see who emerges as the people's choice."

Previous winners of the award include Martin McCourt, Former CEO Dyson (2010), Ruby McGregor-Smith, CEO MITIE Group (2011) and last year's winner, Phil Smith, CEO of Cisco UK & Ireland (2012).

Over 150 of Britain's leading businesses, business leaders and social enterprises have recently been revealed as finalists for the 2013 National Business Awards. The finalists represent categories including the Croner Employer of the Year, the Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year, Santander Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year and the QBE FTSE 100 Business of the Year.

Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all finalists and to book a table at the event.

The National Business Awards supports the Prince's Trust, a charity that offers practical and financial support to young people who need it.

About the National Business Awards

Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK, the National Business Awards is the UK's most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business. Now in its twelfth year, the National Business Awards connects the nations' professionals through its annual awards ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events; and is UBM plc's flagship awards programme. Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information or follow us on Twitter @businessawards.

The full list of categories includes -
The Daily Telegraph Award for a Decade of Excellence in Business
The New Business of the Year
The BlackBerry Business Enabler of the Year
The Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year
The International Growth Business of the Year
The Digital Business of the Year
The Customer Focus Award
The ICAEW Sustainable Business Award
The Leadership Diversity Award
The Social Enterprise of the Year
The Innovation Award
The Growth Business of the Year
The QBE FTSE 100 Business of the Year
The Corporate Citizenship Award
The Croner Employer of the Year
The Santander Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year
The Leader of the Year

About UBM Awards & Partnerships

UBM Awards & Partnerships is part of one of the largest event companies in the world. They create, design and deliver Awards ceremonies that reach thousands of people globally across every sector. Their Awards publicly celebrate excellence, highlighting what is best, what is effective and what is valued.

For further information or interview opportunities contact:
Rachel Branigan
UBM Awards & Partnerships
Tel: +44(0)207-955-3843
Email: Rachel.branigan@ubm.com