One of the most respected business leaders in the country has landed a top honour at the Regional Business Awards 2017.
Dr Jonathan Hague, of Unilever, was named DLA Piper Regional Business Person of the year at the St George’s Hall event, attended by more than 400 people and sponsored by DLA Piper and KPMG.
The awards, staged for the 23rd year by the Liverpool ECHO and Business Post magazine, saw honours presented in ten categories, recognising excellence and achievement across all sectors of the Liverpool city region business landscape.
Winners included Shop Direct, KPMG Business of the Year for over 250 employees, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, MSIF Business of the Year (51-250 employees).
The Liverpool BID Company Young Business Person of the Year was revealed as Natalie Haywood from Aigburth.
Natalie is the managing director and driving force behind Leaf Tea Shop and Bar in Bold Street, Liverpool city centre. Leaf also has a presence in Manchester.
TV personality Ranvir Singh hosted the black tie dinner and awards ceremony at the iconic Liverpool landmark.
Guests were welcomed by ECHO Editor in Chief Alastair Machray and Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Managing Director Carl Wood.
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Dr Hague, who received his award at the climax of the evening from Ben Miller, DLA Piper Liverpool Office Managing partner, is Vice President, Operations and Open Innovation for Unilever Research and Development.
He is also Chair of the Innovation Board of Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
In announcing and presenting him with his award Mr Miller said: “As judges we had many examples of hugely-gifted individuals who have been inspirational, either within their own business or as a driving force for business in general across the city region.
“What we wanted - and found - was someone who was both.
“Our winner began his professional career as a research scientist with Unilever at Port Sunlight. He did this for seven years, all the time learning what it takes for products to be competitive in worldwide markets.
“He was then sent to Indonesia to build Unilever's business there. And then to Illinois where he grew Unilever business to the point where they took market leadership away from Procter and Gamble.
“In 2006 he returned to Port Sunlight and project-managed the creation of a single, global R&D organisation for Unilever.
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"Now, as VP Operations and Open Innovation for Unilever R&D, he leads strategy development and excellence in innovation, partnership and Performance and Efficiency.”
Mr Miller went on: “Our winner’s abilities are now being fully utilised for the good of the city region.
“As Chair of the Innovation Board of Liverpool City region Local Enterprise Partnership his role brings together private sector, academic and local authority leaders to build and execute an innovation strategy that accelerates the development and competitiveness of our regional economy.
“His work since taking the chair in 2015 is described by colleagues as ‘transformational’.
“He has led projects that bring together organisations like Alder Hey Hospital and IBM - a partnership that allows intelligent computers to revolutionise and improve patient care.
“Under his direction, the Innovation Board has commissioned millions of pounds worth of projects including Sensor City, which works on cutting edge sensor technologies for use across many sectors, and LCR 4.0 which provides world-class digital innovation to transform manufacturing and advanced engineering companies across the City Region.”
- A 16 page special event supplement celebrating the night in detail will be published in the ECHO on Thursday, June 29.
The full list of winners and the shortlist
Winners and Finalists
Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Business Newcomer of the Year
Winner: Cooper Noble Care Ltd
Shortlisted: Rent A Space Ltd, Stedychefs Limited
Knowledge Business of the Year
Winners: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Shortlisted: Adept4 plc, vTime Limited
Creative Impact Award
Winners: Zut
Shortlisted: IT Answers, hi-impact consultancy ltd
International Trader of the year
Winners: Smylie Limited (Smylies)
Shortlisted: Alex Stewart International, Clarke Energy, ATG
Liverpool John Lennon Airport Business of the Year (up to 50 employees)
Winners: X1
Shortlisted: AdaptiveComms, d3t Limited
MSIF Business of the Year (51-250 employees)
Winners: Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Shortlisted: Smylie Limited (Smylies), ATG
KPMG Business of the Year (over 250 employees)
Winners: Shop Direct
Shortlisted: Johnson Service Group, Peel Ports Group
Jaguar Land Rover Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Winners: Everton in the Community - Neighbourhood project: 'Blue Mile'
Shortlisted: Liverpool Football Club, Anthonys Travel, Liverpool ONE
Liverpool BID Company Young Business Person of the Year
Winner: Natalie Haywood - Leaf
Shortlisted: Jack Foster - Crosby Coffee, Paul Nicholson - Luxor Estates
DLA Piper Business Person of the Year
Jonathan Hague - Unilever