The Institute of Directors (IoD) North West and Isle of Man branches have unveiled their shortlist ahead of the 2019 Director of the Year Awards ceremony, which will take place at the Hilton in Manchester on Thursday 4 April.
The event will celebrate the achievements of the region’s leaders from across all sectors. For the first time, it will merge the efforts of North West and Isle of Man entrants, championing leaders on both sides of the water.
The shortlist includes a range of names from businesses big and small; Timpson Group Chief Executive James Timpson OBE is nominated for two awards; SMEs meanwhile are represented by a shortlist comprising Onoriode Okeregha of the Immigration Advice Service, Sarah Goulbourne of gunnercooke llp and Phil Eckersley of Bridgewater Home Care.
The region’s leaders of the future will also be celebrated with the Young Director of the Year nominees listed as Andrew Avanessian of Avecto Ltd and Chloe Moore of National Care Group. North West’s charitable organisations will be recognised in the Third Sector award – a shortlist brimming with leaders including Suzanne Connerty of Walking with Giants, Maura Jackson of BACKUP, Rose Marley of SharpFutures Manchester CIC and Nickala Torkington of Flourish Together.
IoD North West and Isle of Man Chair Mike Blackburn OBE, who will also be responsible for judging and presenting the Chairman’s Award for Excellence on the night, said: “Each year we are honoured to celebrate this region’s spectacular talent.
“We have some exceptional organisations in the North West and Isle of Man, and it is imperative that their achievements are celebrated. Getting to the final is a fantastic achievement. Establishing and running a business well is no mean feat, and doing that in a way that shines in our region, captures the imagination of their peers and exemplifies good practice is truly marvellous.”
| Category | Individual Applicant | Company |
|
Director of the Year – Corporate Social Responsibility
|
Matt Haworth | Reason Digital |
| Donald Moore | Rowlinson Knitwear Ltd | |
| James Timpson OBE | Timpson Group | |
| Director of the Year – Family Business sponsored by Crowe | Michael Darracott | MGISS |
| Neil Fraser | Forest Group | |
| Sally Fenton | Search & Select Offshore Limited | |
| James Timpson OBE | Timpson Group | |
| Director of the Year – Inclusivity | Debbie Francis | Direct Rail Services Ltd |
| Sarah Goulbourne | gunnercooke llp | |
| Matt Haworth | Reason Digital | |
| Leila McKenzie | Leila McKenzie Associates | |
| Simone Roche MBE | Northern Power Women | |
| Professor Julia Rouse | Manchester Metropolitan University | |
| Martina Witter | Black Women in Business and Professionals Network | |
| Director of the Year – Innovation sponsored by All Work & Social | Jason Barker | CNC Robotics Limited |
| Professor Simon Bolton | Edge Hill University | |
| Dr Maurizio Bragagni MBA | Tratos Ltd | |
| Martin Keelagher | Agile Automations | |
| Steph Stephenson | Stephensons Dairy | |
| Director of the Year – International sponsored by DIT | Robert Keeling | Airpure International Limited |
| Georgina Jones | NCUK | |
| Marnie Millard OBE | Nichols Plc | |
| Luke Robbins-Wells | Chad Harrison International | |
| Director of the Year – Non- Executive | Martin Keelagher | Walford Cunningham and Hayes Limited |
| Matthew White | The University Caterers Organisation | |
| Director of the Year – Public Sector | Mike Haslin | The University Caterers Organisation |
| Steve Park | Warrington & Co | |
| Director of the Year – Small- Medium Business sponsored by Forza | John Coughlan | TSP Engineering |
| Phil Eckersley | Bridgewater Home Care | |
| Sarah Goulbourne | gunnercooke llp | |
| Matt Haworth | Reason Digital | |
| Donald Moore | Rowlinson Knitwear Ltd | |
| Onoriode Okeregha | Immigration Advice Service | |
| Mike Perls | MC2 | |
| Sunny Sandwell | Sunshine Events UK Limited | |
| Director of the Year – Start-Up sponsored by ACCA | Paul Kerruish | The Fynoderee Distillery |
| David Marsh | Business Arena Limited | |
| Austen Smart | FutureDJs | |
| Director of the Year – Third Sector | Suzanne Connerty | Walking With Giants Foundation |
| Maura Jackson | BACKUP | |
| Rose Marley | SharpFutures Manchester CIC | |
| Suzanne Pender | Ford Park Community Group | |
| Nickala Torkington | Flourish Together CIC | |
| Director of the Year – Young | Andrew Avanessian | Avecto Ltd |
| Chloe Moore | National Care Group | |
| Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Director and Board Practice – sponsored by Kuits | Winner to be announced on the Awards Evening – Judged by Mike Blackburn OBE |
