The finalists in the 2015 All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA). Judges spent over two months examining, analyzing and deliberating the candidates for 2015 from a pool of over a hundred qualifying submissions, narrowing it down to only a handful of business leaders per category in each region.
Kenyans dominate 5 edition of the All Africa Business Leaders Awards with 12 Kenyans being nominated in different categories.
- Jennifer Riria
- Damaris Too-Kimondo
- Eric Kinoti
- Danson Muchemi
- Barclay Paul Okari
- Heril Bangera
- Julian Kyula,
- Bimal Kantaria
- James Mworia
- Rakesh Rao
- Benson Wairegi
- Gina Din-Kariuki
The candidates are drawn from East, Southern and West Africa and each region has the following categories: Young Business Leader of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business Leader of the Year, Business Women of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year. The awards recognize Africa’s bold leaders and change-makers of business in East, West and Southern Africa. The regional events will be staged in Nairobi on September 15, Johannesburg September 30 and Lagos October 22 with the Finale taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre on November 13.
The full list of nominees is below
Young Business Leader of the Year – East Africa
Edha Nahdi, CEO of Amsons Group
Eric Kinoti, Founder & Director of Shade Systems (EA) Ltd
Danson Muchemi, Founder of Web Tribe Ltd.
Barclay Paul Okari, Founder and CEO of Impact Africa Group
Young Business Leader of the Year – Southern Africa
Ashley Uys, Managing Director of Real World Diagnostics
Sylvester Chauke, Founder of DNA BrandArchitects
John Nicolakakis, CEO of Roman’s Pizza
Young Business Leader of the Year – West Africa
Ahonsi Unuigbe, Chief Executive of Petralon Energy Nigeria
Nteff Alain, Co-founder of The Gifted Mom
Yetunde A. Odugbesan, CEO of Yetunde Global Consulting
Entrepreneur of the Year – East Africa
Heril Bangera, CEO of Flame Tree Group
Julian Kyula, CEO and Founder of Mode
Bimal Kantaria, Managing Director of Elgon Kenya Limited
Entrepreneur of the Year – Southern Africa
Samuel Seeff, Chairman of Seeff Properties
John Nicolakakis, CEO of Romans Pizza
Braam van Huyssteen, Founder of Tekkie Town
Jason Xenopoulos, CEO of NATIVE
Entrepreneur of the Year – West Africa
Paul Orajiaka, CEO of Auldon Limited
Swaady Martin-Leke, Founder and CEO of YSWARA Luxe
Obinna Ekezie, CEO of Wakanow
Business Leader of the Year – East Africa
James Mworia, CEO of Centum Investment Company Limited
Rakesh Rao, CEO of Crown Paints
Dr. Benson Wairegi, Group Managing Director of Britam
Mohammed Dewji, Group CEO of MeTL Group
Business Leader of the Year – Southern Africa
Edward Kieswetter, CEO of Alexander Forbes
Dr Johan van Zyl, Group Chief Executive of Sanlam
Sisa Ngebulana, CEO of Billion Group
Business Leader of the Year – West Africa
Segun Agbaje, Managing Director of GTBank
Issam Darwish, CEO of IHS Holding Ltd.
John Bonoh Sisay, CEO of Sierra Rutile
Business Women of the Year – East Africa
Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of Kenya Women
Iza Irame, CEO of African Alliance
Gina Din-Kariuki, Chair of Gina Din Group
Business Women of the Year – Southern Africa
Jeanne Groenewald, Founder of Elgin Free Range Chickens
Natasha Sideris, Founder of Tashas
Louisa Mojela and Gloria Serobe, WIPHOLD
Business Women of the Year – West Africa
Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder of Ruff ‘N’ Tumble
Dr. Leticia Osafo Addo, CEO of Samba Foods
Nimi Akinkugbe, CEO of Bestman Games Ltd
Adepeju Adebajo, Managing Director of WAPCO Operations, Lafarge Africa Plc.
Philanthropist of the Year – East Africa
Mohammed Dewji, Group CEO of MeTL Group
Ashok Shah, CEO of Apollo Investment Limited
Damaris Too-Kimondo, Director of Shrand Promotions
Philanthropist of the Year – Southern Africa
Solly Noor of Solly and Zohra Noor Foundation
Wendy Ackerman of The Ackerman Foundation
Wendy Appelbaum of Wendy Appelbaum Foundation
Philanthropist of the Year – West Africa
Fred Swaniker, Founder of African Leadership Academy
Patrick Awuah Jr, Founder and President of Ashesi University