Excel Awards - the winners!
by Martin Crocker
This week, we announced the winners of the 2008 IABC Europe/Middle East Excel Award for Communication Leadership.
As a reminder, the Excel awards recognize senior people (for example CEOs, Managing Directors and Presidents) who are not communications professionals but who actively exhibit outstanding commitment to and skills in communication for the benefit of their organizations.
Applications were assessed against four criteria:
o Communication Leadership: the extent to which they support innovative and dynamic strategies which contribute to the success of their organization
o Commitment to communication: the extent to which they actively participate in his/her organization’s communication programmes – internal and external at local, national, and international levels.
o Personal communication skills: the extent to which they are skilful and effective communicators with diverse audiences
o Ethics and professionalism: the extent to which they show commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards
This year we received 6 nominations – twice as many as last year – of which five were of a very high standard. The committee comprised IABC members from five different countries throughout the Europe/ME region, so we had a good spread of opinions and perceptions.
The assessment process – going through two rounds of detailed analysis, and basing ourselves as far as possible an objective criteria – provides a fascinating insight into the work of some of our region’s outstanding business leaders.
Although the competition was close, there was finally one clear winner: he is John Mullen, CEO and Board Member, DHL Express.
John has clearly made a remarkable impact on the success of his organization through his commitment to communication; has shown examples of communication at its best both internally and externally, speaking honestly in the face of problems and using the personal touch with colleagues; and has clearly put communication at the heart of his leadership style, devoting time, energy and enthusiasm to dealing openly, directly and credibly and with his many different stakeholders.
John Mullen will be presented with his award at the IABC’s Eurocomm conference in Barcelona on 4th-5th February 2008, where he will present the keynote address.
Four other nominees receive Excel Merit awards:
Franjo Bobinac, President of the Management Board and CEO Gorenje, Slovenia; who is noteworthy for his personal communication skills, and the value this has brought to his company.
Ditlev Engel, CEO Vestas, Denmark, who impressed with his commitment to communication both internal and external, leading his company through a cultural change towards greater visibility and success.
Mr. Monther Al Harthi, General Manager, AlRabie Saudi Foods Company, Saudi Arabia, who is impressive for his personal communications skills and communication leadership, especially in a sensitive cultural environment.
Jean Stéphenne, President GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Belgium, for whom communication is central to realizing his vision for his company. This particularly shows itself in his commitment to a wide-ranging external communications program not just in the media, but also with NGOs and other communities, and includes active listening as well as presenting.
Previous Excel Award winners have been: David Radcliffe, CEO of Hogg Robinson (2004); John O’Neill, CEO of AXA Ireland (2005); and John Leggate, CIO of BP (2006).
Martin Crocker is Chairman of the IABC Europe/Middle East Excel Awards 2008 and Marketing Communications Managare at Gemalto in France.
Photo: thanks to Martin Crocker
