EY is pleased to announce the winners in the Master, Exceptional and Emerging categories of its 2014 Southern Africa Chapter of the World Entrepreneur Awards programme.
This group of leading entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous winners of the award, leading CEOs and regional business leaders.
We congratulate this year’s winners in the following categories:
* Master entrepreneur category: Asher Bohbot – EOH;
* Emerging entrepreneur category: Justin Clarke – One Africa Media; and
* Exceptional entrepreneur category: Divine Ndhlukula – Securico.
The EY World Entrepreneur award is more than just a tribute. With Africa tipped for significant growth, it is important that we as a continent nurture, support and celebrate entrepreneurs because they are lifeblood of economies. In order to achieve the potential the continent holds, Africa needs entrepreneurs who build high growth companies with integrity, who add value to their markets, and who develop skills on a large scale, while creating sustainable jobs.
As a leader in guiding entrepreneurs and their companies, EY honours these entrepreneurs for the energy and innovative ideas they bring to generate growth in their economies, while inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
CJ Kujenga, Strategic Growth Markets leader for EY Africa says, “This year’s winners are testament to the talent that exists on the continent. As potential drivers of the economy and creators of jobs, they embody the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment we all need to realise the potential of Africa.”
Africa has reached a point where it has proved that it can produce African entrepreneurs who can propel not only their own countries forward, but the continent as well, she adds.
“We at EY are proud to be associated with such remarkable business minds. They exemplify excellence and greatness and more importantly, the fact that Africa owns its own future. Our progress lies in the talent and potential that they hold as business people operating on the continent,” she concludes.
In addition to these awards, EY is proud to bestow the Lifetime Achievement Award to one of South Africa’s legendary and truly iconic entrepreneur, Sol Kerzner.
As the founder and former Chairman of Kerzner International Holdings Limited, Kerzner demonstrated an extraordinary spirit of entrepreneurship that is celebrated not only in the country, but across the world.
Kerzner, a visionary who redefined the scope and scale of destination resorts, founded both of South Africa’s largest hotel groups and has played a pivotal role in the development of the tourism industries of South Africa, Mauritius, The Maldives, Dubai and The Bahamas.
He played a pivotal role in putting South Africa on the tourism map and his legacy to South Africa will live on not only through the hotels and resorts he built, but also through the hospitality industry that continues to thrive.
“We are extraordinarily proud to recognise Kerzner, whose excellence is an inspiration to many other entrepreneurs,” says Kujenga.
As winner in Master Entrepreneur category, which is being sponsored by South African Airways, EOH CEO Asher Bohbot will join his counterparts from West and East Africa at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year event in Monte
Carlo, where they will compete with winners from 50 other countries for the global title.
