It’s now the opportunity to recognise those directors and of course, the teams they head up, in the 2021 Jersey Director of the Year Awards, kindly sponsored by Appleby.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be looking at all ten of the category awards which we look forward to celebrating at a black-tie awards ceremony at the Royal Yacht on Friday September 17th.
Director of the Year – large business, is for those who work in a large business that has a turnover of more than £10million. We didn’t run this category last year, in our very slimmed down awards, due to the pandemic. The 2019 winner was Andrew McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer, RBSI.
Andrew said that at first he was reluctant to enter, ‘I was pleased to be nominated by people who felt I’d helped them and their business. I was hesitant about entering because a leader is the captain of a team. Once I was clear in my head that the team would share in any success, I was at peace. I was elated by the award which seemed to validate that our strategy, team and culture were headed in the right direction.’
This is a feeling that many of our previous award winners share, that while it is a celebration of their leadership, a good leader is only as strong as their team and so the award reflects everyone.
The pandemic, combined with the build-up to Brexit, provided some exceptionally challenging business conditions. Directors have had to completely reassess their business models and plans in the last year and respond quickly with innovative decisions and strategies. We should recognise those leaders because by pivoting businesses, ensuring continuity, and grasping opportunities, they have helped safeguard jobs, organisations and ultimately Jersey’s economic success.
For the Large Business category, judges are going to look at how financial targets and KPIs have been met, or exceeded, innovation, the vision for growth, sustainability, evidence of good corporate governance and the leader’s understanding of key challenges, customers, and the changing business landscape. Judges will, of course, not expect financials to necessarily be in line with original targets due to trading conditions.
In this category, judges also look to see examples of the nominee’s contribution to board composition, including identifying any gaps in board competency, and how meaningful engagement with all stakeholders has been undertaken.
Leading an organisation is more than just being a good manager or having the right skills and knowledge to carry out your duties, directors should also bring an ethical mindset, integrity, and independence. When it comes to an organisation’s ethical standards the directors and senior management need to be beyond reproach and ‘set the tone at the top’.
This year, more than any other, judges will be looking at a director’s approach to challenge and innovation. We all learnt a lot during the pandemic, about ourselves and about others and our organisations, nominees should share what they have taken away from the pandemic experience, as well as articulating vision and innovation.
Of course, it’s not all about the last year. A company’s culture will determine how effective it is when crisis looms. Do your staff feel a part of your organisation, are they being supported and enabled in their careers? How have you driven a positive culture within your organisation?
This is just one category in this year’s awards, we want to celebrate leaders in all fields, whether you’re an established business, innovative start-up, SME, NED, Third Sector director or family business. Entry is free and you do not have to be a member of IoD Jersey to enter.
The full list of categories are:
Large Business
SME Business
Family Business
Start-up
Third Sector
Public Sector
Young
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Sustainability
Non-Executive
We have an excellent panel of judges, some of Jersey’s finest directors and former directors from a range of business sectors and backgrounds. The panel will be chaired by Kevin Keen whose impressive career has included Finance Director of Le Riche Group, Managing Director of Jersey Dairy, Chairman of Jersey Water, Chief Executive of Jersey Post, Advisor to the States of Jersey, and most recently interim Chief Executive of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Chairman of the Association of Jersey Charities.
Mr Keen will be joined by John Henwood MBE (winner of the IoD Jersey Lifetime Achievement Award), Brendan McMahon, (former CEO of PwC Channel Islands and Chair of the Good Business Charter), Dr Lesley Dickie (CEO of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust), Kate Wright (Founder/Director at Arbre Consulting and Co-Founder of the Diversity Network), Kristina Le Feuvre (Co-Founder of aMaizin! Adventure Park and a Non Executive Director of Jersey Business) and Tom Hacquoil (Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Pinpoint and former Jersey/UK winner for Start-Up Director of the Year).
You have until Friday, 4 June to either nominate yourself and/or others by clicking on “Awards” on the www.IoD.jewebsite.