Peter Slabbert, chief executive of Melksham-based Avon Rubber, has been named CEO of the Year at the 2011 Grant Thornton Quoted Company Awards. The prestigious award, presented at a ceremony in London last night, follows Avon becoming the International Company Turnaround winner for 2010 by the Institute for Turnaround last month, triumphing over a number of other high quality nominees, even beating General Motors into second place.
The Grant Thornton Quoted Company Awards recognise the achievements of Stock Exchange-listed companies outside the FTSE 350. In Mr Slabbert’s case the judges were impressed by his long-term strategic decisions, Avon’s overseas development and his achievement in re-building a world-class company. They also highlighted that, as well as rapid growth, Avon delivers a yield to its investors.
A wide range of measures were used to select the winner including their impacts on sales, profits, earnings and share price (all on a 12-month basis) as well as those who have reduced losses and been at the helm of turnaround situations. The main focus was also on ‘professional’ chief executives rather than those who have founded the company and/or are significant shareholders.
Mr Slabbert said: “Avon is a very different company to that of a few years ago. We were a loss-making manufacturing company lacking focus, direction and with many diverse business areas. Our new management team implemented a plan to transform Avon into a successful, innovative customer and technology-led group. So I share this accolade with them, as they have worked equally hard to turn Avon round into the company that has re-emerged during the past year.
“During difficult economic times we have established global leading positions in our protection and defence businesses by retaining the best of our heritage – talented and motivated people, excellence in materials science and manufacturing – but most importantly we have been investing in our great brand names and the infrastructure to get our world leading products to market.”
