Our Judges
The judging process for the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange is robust. It begins with an initial shortlist based on an entry form questionnaire scored by a carefully selected panel of up to three judges – who will determine ten finalists in each category. These finalists are then invited to present live to a panel of up to five qualified judges, who will determine an overall winner based on the quality of the presentation, answers to their questions and data supplied on the original entry form.
An intensive month of judging in both the open to entries and nomination category judging takes place at the offices of Coutts & Co at The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe, in the City of London.
Chaired by Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, the judging panel comprising of around 100 CEOs and Senior Directors, will assess and reward the country’s most promising and successful companies. Panels are co-chaired by Alex Evans, Editorial Director of the National Business Awards and Professor Dominic Swords, Business Economist.
Mr Leslie Copeland, CEO, Vitesse Media
Ms Sherry Coutu, Investment Committee, NESTA
Mr Stephen Dury, Director of Market Development & Customer Propositions, Santander UK
Mr Gabriel Hopkins, Head of eCommerce products, WorldPay
Mr Ardi Kolah, Head of PR, Brit Insurance
Ms Julie Meyer, CEO, Ariadne Capital
Mr William Montgomery, CEO, TEN
Mr Simon Perryman, Director of Employer Engagement, UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Mr Richard Spencer, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Institute of Chartered Accountants for England & Wales
Mr David Smith, Managing Director, IMRG
Mr Charles Ward, Chief Operating Officer, Intellect
Read more about the National Business Awards Shortlisting Panel 2011
The Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year
Mr Richard Alvin, Group Managing Director, Capital Business Media group
Mr Clive Lewis, Head of Enterprise, ICAEW
Mr Martin Lyne, SME Marketing Director, Everything Everywhere
Mr Steve Pateman, Executive Director of Corporate, Commercial & Business Banking, Santander Corporate Banking
The BlackBerry Growth Strategy of the Year
Mr Leslie Copeland, CEO, Vitesse Media
Ms Marihelen Esam, Programme Leader, Business Growth Programme, The Cranfield School of Management
Mr Phil Lander, Senior Director, EMEA, BlackBerry/Research in Motion
Mr Tom Thomas, Chief Executive, The Institute of Commercial Management
The Entreprenuer of the Year
Mr Duncan Cheatle, Founder, The Supper Club
Ms Julie Meyer, CEO, Ariadne Capital
Mr Richard North, Managing Director, Wow! Stuff
Sir Eric Peacock, Chairman, Baydonhill plc
The Excellence in Marketing Award
Mr Stephen Day, Vice President of Marketing Brand and Comms, Orange
Ms Gail Gallie, CEO, Fallon London
Mr Ardi Kolah, Head of PR, Brit Insurance
Ms Allyson Stewart-Allen, Director, International Marketing Partners
The Huawei Customer Focus Award
Ms Natalie Calvert, Founder & Managing Director, Calcom Group
Mrs Jo Causon, Chief Executive, Institute of Customer Service
Ms Claudia Hathway, Editor, Customer Strategy Network
Mr Steve Morris, Head of Viewer Services, ITV
The Small Online Business of the Year
Mr Ben Heald, CEO, Sift Media/Business Zone
Mr David Smith, Managing Director, IMRG
Mr Mario Thomas, Managing Director, Chapter Eight
The Orange Leader of the Year
Mr Gerald Bailey, Senior Private Banker, Coutts & Co
Sir Eric Peacock, Chairman, Baydonhill
Sir Roger Bone KCMG, President, Boeing United Kingdom
Mr Simon Calver, CEO, LOVEFiLM
Mr Ian Cheshire, Group Chief Executive, Kingfisher
Mr Greg Dyke, Chairman, BFI
Ms Cathy Ferrier, Fundraising and Supporter Marketing Director, Oxfam
Mrs India Gary Martin, MD, JP Morgan
Mr Andy Hague, Managing Director, Croner
Mr Mark Henderson, Board Member, Walpole
Mr Mark Henshaw, Partner, Grant Thornton
Mr Tim Lamb, CEO, Sports & Recreation Alliance
Mr James Leigh-Pemberton, CEO UK, Credit Suisse
Mr Peter Marks, CEO, The Co-operative Group
Mr Martin McCourt, CEO, Dyson
Mrs Sarah McNaught, Partner, KPMG
Ms Clare Parsons, Chairman, Lansons Communications
Mr Steve Pateman, UK Head of Commercial & Corporate Banking, Santander
Mr David Postings, CEO, Moneycorp
Mr Anthony Salz, Executive Vice-Chairman, NM Rothschild
Sir William Sargent, CEO, Framestore
Mr David Whileman, Partner, UK Private Equity
Ms Cathy Wolfe, CEO, Wolters Kluwer UK
The 3i Private Business of the Year
Mr David Whileman, Partner, UK Private Equity, 3i
Mr David Kilburn, CEO, MKM Building Supplies
Mr David Richards, CEO, SLR Consulting
Mr Tim Scott, Chairman/Founder, ENER-G
Mr Mike Tobin, CEO, TelecityGroup
The Grant Thornton Mid Cap Business of the Year
Mr Martin Gardner, Partner, Grant Thornton
Ms Clare Parsons, Chairman, Lansons Communications
Ms Jane Tozer, Founder, ITNEA
The Coutts & Co Large Cap Business of the Year
Mr Gerald Bailey, Senior Client Partner, Coutts & Co
Mr Geoff Cousins, MD, Jaguar
Mr Tony Horell, CEO, Colliers
Mr Will Oulton, European Head of Responsible Investment, Mercer
