Africa Business News (ABN) Events and CNBC Africa have announced the launch of the inaugural
Africa Business Leaders Awards (ABLA), to be hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 21 October
2011.
CNBC Africa will be the official broadcast partner of ABLA, which will reward the most prominent
business leaders in Africa. Auditing and Professional Services firm KPMG and the Gordon Institute of
Business Science (GIBS) have partnered with ABN Events and CNBC Africa to find, select and analyse
the top business leaders in Africa.
Gary Alfonso, Managing Director of CNBC Africa, said at the launch of ABLA that the awards were
aimed at creating the ultimate credible platform for business leadership success from South, East,
North and West Africa.
“CNBC Africa is a powerful brand which is proud to put its name behind ABLA because we believe that
these Awards will position Africa’s captains of industry as successful leaders to the world,” said
Alfonso.
ABLA is supported by a high profile panel of judge, headed by Dr Yunus Suleman, Chairman of KPMG.
Prof Nick Binedell, Director at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS); Russell Loubser, CEO
at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE); Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO at the New Economic Path of
African Development (NEPAD); and Godfrey Mutizwa, Chief Editor at CNBC Africa, make up the rest
of the panel.
As convenor of the ABLA judging process, Dr Suleman emphasised the importance of showcasing
economic and business leadership on the African continent.
“We want these Awards to be truly pan-African, to truly represent what is happening on the African
continent.”
Suleman also stressed it was important is for the awards to be credible and aspirational. He said it
was therefore relevant for KPMG and GIBS to come on board as the intellectual and business school
partners for ABLA. GIBS will also be doing the research process for the Awards.
The five categories for the Awards are:
- Lifetime Achievement Award;
- Young Business Leader of the Year Award;
- Africa Business Woman of the Year;
- Africa Entrepreneur of the Year; and
- Africa Business Leader of the Year
The search for Africa’s top business leaders is now underway. The official ABLA website will call for
nominations from 21 June 2011 and will close at the end of July. Three finalists per category will be
profiled at the gala event in October.
For more information about this press conference and ABLA, visit: www.abla2011.com
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Celeste Baliraj
Marketing Executive: Communications
O: +27 11 384 0300
E: celeste.baliraj@cnbcafrica.com
W: www.cnbcafrica.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cnbcafrica
Visit the latest addition to CNBC Africa: www.abndigital.com