Putting judges in the spotlight with winners

Nov 26 2009 By The Journal

THERE is a good reason why the finals of the North East Business Executive of the Year is one of the absolute highlights of the region’s business calendar.

The cream of the North East business community past and present gather to celebrate individuals who have made this a great region in which to do business.

And this year’s dinner, as ever at the Gosforth Park Marriott Hotel in Newcastle, was another event to cherish and a fitting climax to the awards organised by the Journal and the Evening Gazette.

There were cheers for all the winners, toasts for the past winners and speeches from Andrew Dixon, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, and from Stephen Howard, chief executive of Business in the Community.

The black tie dinner was opened by David Simms, managing director of The Journal’s publisher ncjMedia.

He said: "Of all the events we run, the North East Business Executive of the Year has proved to be the most enduring. As ever, we have worked hard to find a worthy winner.

"One of the great things about this event is the credibility and quality of the previous winners and this year’s winner is of equal standing."

Here, chairman of the judging panel Sir Fred Holliday gives his take on the 2009 North East Business Executive of the Year Awards.

"OCCASIONALLY I am a judge at a local fruit, flower and veg show. During the judging the hall is empty of all but the judges; then the doors are open and in come the exhibitors and their friends. Time to put on the false beard and dark glasses and listen to the comments.

Judges, like referees, are the subject of judgements and pointed comments. But at the annual awards ceremony for the North East Business Executive of the year there are no disguises.

The judges present their chosen candidates to a fanfare of music and under bright lights.

So it was last week and the judges, scattered among the tables of guests and supporters, awaited judgement on their judgements!

It had been a challenging year. The contestants had been asked to provide details, give filmed interviews and answer questions when they and their businesses were in the midst of the credit crunch and their heads were down over balance sheets and income and expenditure accounts.

It is a tribute to them that so many were prepared to be involved at such a time. The judges were presented with profiles of candidates based on business successes, community contributions, customer satisfaction, profitability and so on. We were trying to compare good apples with good pears!

There were issues of principle to consider (what is a business, what is an entrepreneur?), then deciding what weight to put on the different components of success. Not an easy task.

Fortunately we had a wide range of skills and experience to call on within the judging team. And although they were not judges we had invaluable input from our sponsors.

When the films of the individuals were shown – fast cars driven fast, aerobatics, wind surfing, clay pigeon shooting – we wondered, did success go with an adrenaline rush? Clearly working hard and playing hard often went together. We had judged on other criteria so this came as a surprise to both judges and guests.

Qualities of leadership also came through in the films – sharing the ups and downs with employees, encouraging initiative, yet carrying the can when necessary, and the importance of education.

The importance of the night was made clear as critical business decisions for the future were announced for the first time.

And the judgement on the judges? "Not bad; not easy but everyone merited their award". We cannot ask for more."

Sir Fred Holliday

:: Click here to see an image gallery from the North East Business Executive of the Year awards