By Wright Communications - 25 November 2011
Kiwi transport giant Mainfreight just keeps on trucking, taking out the two supreme titles at the prestigious 2011 Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards last night.
Business champions named at
2011 Top 200 Awards
Kiwi transport giant Mainfreight just keeps on trucking, taking
out the two supreme titles at the prestigious 2011
Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards last
night.
Mainfreight took out the blue riband Company of the Year award
and then its renowned leader Don Braid was named Executive of the
Year in front of a who's who of New Zealand business at SkyCity
Convention Centre in Auckland.
Inspirational business innovator Lloyd Morrison, founder of
Infratil, was honoured with a Visionary Leader award, and Wayne
Boyd - who oversaw Telecom's recent division into two companies -
was named Chairperson of the Year.
Mr Braid became the first person in the Awards' 22-year history
to win the Deloitte/Management Executive of the Year Award
twice with the same company, having previously won in 2008 (Ralph
Norris also won twice, once with ASB, and then with Air New
Zealand).
The judges summed up Mr Braid's feat: "It takes a very special
leader to repeat that kind of winning performance."
Publisher of NZ Management magazine and Mediaweb
director Toni Myers says Mr Braid has instilled in Mainfreight a
drive for success which is among the most ambitious in New Zealand
business.
"Mainfreight has a global expansion plan, and under Don's
world-class leadership has become an outstanding Kiwi success
story. It is a billion-dollar business which still retains the
values which have been at its heart from the outset," Ms Myers
says.
"It is no secret that recent business conditions have been among
the toughest in memory, and as New Zealand tries to emerge from
recession, we need other companies to strive for the kind of
strategic thinking and business acumen displayed by Don and the
leadership team at Mainfreight."
Deloitte chief executive Thomas Pippos congratulated all the
winners and finalists, and saluted their determination to strive
for excellence during what has been another challenging year for
business.
"Mainfreight is an exemplary example of a company whose success
here and on the global stage is a result of its visionary
leadership, and the fact it hasn't been deterred from pursuing its
goals despite these turbulent and uncertain times," Mr Pippos
says.
Ms Myers says Lloyd Morrison's battle with ill-health has
seen him step back at times from some of his more intensive
roles, and he is in the US for treatment at the moment, but his
passion for New Zealand and concern for its future prosperity is
unwavering.
"The Visionary Leader award honour roll contains the names of
many of our legendary business figures, and Lloyd Morrison deserves
his place alongside them."
"From his successful battle to save the New Zealand Stock
Exchange, to his patronage of the arts, and from his foundation of
Infratil to his campaign for a new flag for New Zealand, Lloyd's
depth of vision continues to shine through."
The judges said Wayne Boyd's exemplary chairmanship at Telecom
matched his outstanding achievements in prior roles at Auckland
International Airport and Meridian Energy.
"Making hard calls when they need to be made is the true sign of
a leader, and Wayne has consistently demonstrated superb governance
in recent years," says Ms Myers.
Vodafone New Zealand attained the rare accomplishment of
back-to-back Top 200 awards, again winning the Responsible
Governance award it first won last year. It has also been a
finalist on four other occasions since 2001.
Ms Myers says: "Vodafone continues to set the benchmark for
commitment to stakeholders, with innovative approaches to issues
such as text bullying, and cyber safety among its most notable
recent achievements."
Other major category winners were: Hamish McBeath, general
manager of Pacific Coilcoaters, (Young Executive of the Year),
retailer Kathmandu (Most Improved Performance), and Ryman
Healthcare (Best Growth Strategy).
The Top 200 award winners
- Deloitte/Management magazine Company of the
Year: Mainfreight
- Deloitte/Management magazine Executive of the
Year: Don Braid
- NZIM/Eagle Technology Young Executive of the
Year: Hamish McBeath
- QBE Chairperson of the Year: Wayne Boyd
- Workbase Best Growth Strategy: Ryman
Healthcare
- Marsh Most Improved Performance:
Kathmandu
- Kensington Swan Responsible Governance Award:
Vodafone New Zealand
- Designworks Visionary Leader Award: Lloyd
Morrison.
The December issue of NZ Management is out now, and
includes full coverage of the Top 200 Awards, and extensive
analysis by expert business writers.
For the full 2011 Deloitte/Management Top 200 Awards
list and category finalists, please see www.management.co.nz/top200.
About the Top 200 Awards
The Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards were
established in 1990 and are run annually to recognise and applaud
outstanding individual and management team performances among New
Zealand's largest companies and trading organisations.
The Top 200 award winners emerge from NZ Management
magazine's annual listing of the 200 largest corporations based on
revenue, and a separate listing of New Zealand's Top 30 financial
enterprises based on asset value.
The lists comprise publicly listed and unlisted companies, New
Zealand subsidiaries of multinational companies, co-operatives,
societies and state-owned enterprises (SOEs), plus private
companies prepared to supply audited accounts.
From the Top 200 index, significant contenders are identified
for a series of awards. A thorough and comprehensive judging
process follows, with the contenders whittled down following
further research and scrutiny until the judges decide the three
finalists and eventually the winner in each category.
The judges are well recognised and respected figures in the
business community and are selected for their expertise in
particular award categories.
Top 200 Awards judges' notes not directly referred to in
the release above:
NZIM/Eagle Technology Young Executive of the
Year: Hamish McBeath, general manager of Pacific
Coilcoaters
A well-qualified manager and leader who clearly articulates his
values, Hamish McBeath manages a $110 million business within
Fletcher Building's Steel Group. His vision is to keep New Zealand
manufacturing alive and healthy. His naval career showed he is
willing to lead by example and to alter his leadership style to
meet different circumstances. He emphasises the importance of
personal engagement, focusing on respect and clear
communication.
Marsh Most Improved Performance Award:
Kathmandu
Despite a struggling retail sector in Australasia, the outdoor
clothing and accessories retailer grew total sales by 25 per cent,
and net profit before extraordinaries by 47 per cent. The company
also expanded its product range and lifted its total number of
stores in New Zealand, Australia and the UK to 110.
Workbase Best Growth Strategy: Ryman
Healthcare
A 25 per cent compound annual profit growth over the past five
years is a sign of Ryman Healthcare's growth strategy. Ryman
has a deep understanding of the retirement and aged-care business,
and excellent long-term strategic plans. The company is
committed to consistently implementing a proven business model and
growth strategy.
Kensington Swan Responsible Governance:
Vodafone New Zealand
Vodafone provides New Zealand's benchmark of best practice in
responsible governance. Examples include the company's
documentation, communication and implementation of
organisation-wide performance standards, which are rigorously led
and managed. Innovations include an externally facilitated
whistle-blower programme called 'Speak Up', which is coupled with a
Duty to Report Policy included under its Code of Conduct. The
company's global sustainability reporting is exceptional, with a
global sustainability report supplemented by local operating market
reports.
For more information contact:
Lester Thorley, Wright Communications
Ph: 09 366 2456; Mob: 021 103 4857; Email: lester@wrightcommunications.co.nz
Ends