Annual School-sponsored awards celebrate Welsh business success

Cardiff Business School was once again the headline sponsor of the IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards, held at Cardiff’s SSE SWALEC Stadium on Friday 20 May 2016.

The School has supported these prestigious awards, a highlight in the Welsh business calendar, since their inception in 2011. During that time the profile of the awards has grown significantly and the annual ceremony brings together all sectors of the business community.

The awards recognise and celebrate business achievements from across Wales, identifying exceptional directors and leaders in a range of categories.

This year’s winners saw five female and five male directors honoured:

• Director for Leadership in Corporate Responsibility (sponsored by Welsh Government)Rosie Sweetman, Business in the Community Cymru, Cardiff

• Director in a Family Business
  David Gray, TB Davies, Cardiff

• Director in a Medium/Large Business (sponsored by Lloyds Bank)Peter Thomas, Contract Services Group, Port Talbot

• Director in the Public Sector (sponsored by Academi Wales)Jeff Farrar, Gwent Police, Gwent

• Director in a Small Business (sponsored by Wessex Garages)Ben Wheeler, Copper Bay Creative, Swansea

• Director in a Social Enterprise or Charity (sponsored by Legal & General)Elin Wyn, Chapter, Cardiff

• Young Director of the Year (sponsored by Tidal Lagoon)Kelly Bolderson, Glamorgan Telecom, Cardiff

• Talent and Innovation Award (sponsored by ACCA)Julia Brooker, Julia Brooker Paintings, Cardiff

The Chairman’s Award was presented to Gocompare.com founder Hayley Parsons in acknowledgement of the price comparison website’s success and for her support of start-up businesses.

Robert Lloyd Griffiths, director of IoD in Wales, gave his annual director’s award to Principality Building Society group chief executive Graeme Yorston.

Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, said of the annual awards: “We are proud to continue our sponsorship of the IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards. Recent winners have demonstrated outstanding skill and leadership. They have motivated and inspired their teams and delivered excellent results despite challenging economic and business realities. This year is no exception.

“It is also pleasing to see the equal distribution of prizes between male and female directors. Cardiff Business School is committed to the principles of equality and diversity and pledged to Chwarae Teg’s 50:50 by 2020.”