The annual CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards Presented By Johnnie Walker Blue Label (AABLA) has been launched in Nairobi, Kenya. The awards seek to celebrate the pioneers and game-changers in the Continent’s business landscape.
East Africa’s finalists have been selected for their significant contributions to the region’s success, the first round of the AABLA will take place in Nairobi on September 20th.
East Africa’s business champions will then contend against other regional winners from West and Southern Africa in the AABLA finale, to take place in November, vying for the title of Africa’s most exceptional businesspeople in their respective fields.
The nominees feature across four categories, representing the full, dynamic scope of Africa’s thriving business sector from Business Leader of the Year to; Business Woman of the Year; Young Business Leader of the Year; and Entrepreneur of the Year.
After the East African round, the CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards will move on to Southern Africa on October 2nd before the final regional round takes place in West Africa on October 23rd.
Regional winners will then vie for the ultimate title of Africa’s business icon in their sector at the esteemed CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards Presented By Johnnie Walker Blue Label finale in Johannesburg on November 14th, 2014.
The finalists for each category in the East African round are:
Business Leader of the Year
- Benson Irungu Wairegi – CEO of British American Investment
- James Mworia – CEO and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company
- Rakesh Rao – CEO of Crown Paints
- Reginald Mengi – CEO of the IPP Group
Business Woman of the Year
- Esther Muchemi – CEO of Samchi Telecom Ltd.
- Joanne Muthoni Mwangi – CEO of PMS Group
- Nasim Devji – CEO and Managing Director of Diamond Trust Bank
- Tabitha Karanja – CEO of Keroche Breweries Ltd.
Entrepreneur of the Year
- Sudhir Ruparelia – CEO and Founder of Ruparelia Group of Companies
- Manoj Shanker – CEO of Technobrain Ltd.
Young Business Leader of the Year
- Danson Muchemi – CEO of Jambopay; Webtribe Ltd.
- Erick Konoti Mwirigi – Founder of Shades Systems
- Patrick E. Ngowi – CEO of Helvetic Solar