AWARDS CATEGORIES

Asia Business Leader of the Year
The Asia Business Leader of the Year recognizes the chief executive who is able to retain loyal customers, inspire and motivate stuff, grow profitability and make his or her vision for the company a reality. Special attention will be given to various qualities such as innovation, community service and the drive to ensure the company's success. In addition, the business leader's actions relating to global trends and issues are also taken into account.

Innovator of the Year
The Innovator of the Year Award rewards incentive thinking in business. It is based on achievements in new product development and groundbreaking business processes, business models and strategies. This is the business leader who has demonstrated the ability to turn "reinvention" into success.

Corporate Citizen of the Year
The Corporate Citizen of the Year acknowledges outstanding contributions to the arts, education, the environment and community development. The winner of this award will be judged on the ability to translate a company's success into benefits for the community.

CEOs' Choice of the Year
The CEOs' Choice of the Year award is determined by a pool conducted with top executives throughout the region. Heads of companies will be invited to vote either by email or through the official Asia Business Leader Awards 2005 website for their choice from among the 20 short-listed semi-finalists.

Malaysia CEO of the Year
The Malaysia CEO of the Year award is specially created for ABLA 2005 to recognise excellence in Malaysian leadership as Malaysia CEOs continue to lead and structure their businesses into international competency. This award recognises an exceptional Malaysian business leader whose vision and management abilities have helped steer his company successfully in his home country and in the global marketplace.

JUDGING PROCESS

As the Awards grows from strength to strength each year, selecting the Awards' winners from a list of accomplished business leaders becomes increasingly challenging. Under a stringent, objective and transparent criteria, business leaders are judged by an independent panel of world respected management strategists, academics and corporate personalities.

Heeding the judging panel are two academics from knowledge partner University of Chicago Graduate School of Business (GSB): Professor Mark E. Zmijewski, Dean of Executive MBA Programmes, and Professor William W. Kooser, Associate Dean for Part Time MBA Programmes.

Together with research partner Development Dimensions International (DDI), the distinguished panel goes through a unique three-phase judging process based on a combination of criteria including financial performance, leadership, creativity, innovation and social responsibility. Candidates are evaluated with a focus on their ability to create short-term advantages, long-term value, competitive edge, and the demonstration of leadership in the business community.

Phase One - The team from University of Chicago GSB and Development Dimensions International (DDI) compile quantitative company data to bring out the top performers from across the Asian landscape. The selection process takes into consideration the past performance of firms beyond their peers given their country, industry and size. The team will then shortlist candidates for the second phase. This process also takes place on the local level in countries selected for the Local Business Leader Awards.

Phase Two - A face-to-face interview process is introduced by DDI to assess candidates' leadership qualities based on a set of criteria including talent management, innovation, culture, strategy formulation and execution and social contribution. Twenty candidates will be short-listed for the next phase of judging.

Phase Three - A distinguished panel of independent judges led by the University of Chicago GSB further shortlist 10 finalists. The winners from the Local Business Leader Awards will then join these finalists. Four winners from this list are selected for the various award categories at the Asia Business Leader Awards 2005.

Judging Panel

THEME & LOGO

Recognising Outstanding Leadership

The courage to dream, the strength to lead and the spirit to create mark a true leader.

Rare but necessary qualities in today's dynamic business environment.

Asia's business leaders who epitomise these qualities are true innovators; worthy of emulation and admiration. They are powerful influences not only for today but into the future.

The Thailand Business Leader Awards 2005 recognises individuals whose excellence and achievements in the Asia business community embody these unique qualities.

Business leaders who are an inspiration to all!

"The ABLA 2005 will recognise business leaders who have successfully steered their companies on the path to success by inspiring their employees to confront today's business challenges and by preparing them to identify and capture the opportunities that await them in this era of globalisation. These outstanding business leaders know the value of keeping abreast of the latest innovations in business management to create and execute new business models that adjust to the ever-changing business environment. ABLA 2005 will salute those leaders who have effectively energized their companies to seize opportunities, laid the foundation for strong corporate governance, and developed a healthy corporate culture and community. ABLA 2005 celebrates the spirit of achievement and excellence in business leadership throughout Asia."

Professor Mark E. Zmijewski
Dean of Executive MBA Programmes
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business (GSB)

The ABLA Logo

The Awards logo draws its inspiration from the way sound business decisions originate from good ideas. From the broad top to the strong tip, it shows how general fundamentals are distilled into one decisive point. It draws inspiration from the calligrapher whose brush strokes are honed to perfection, bold yet mindful and executed with momentum and precision. Like the swift stroke of a master calligrapher, success in business is often the result of extraordinary talent, remarkable mastery and spectacular precision. The business leader's experience, acumen and insights help set directions. These are then developed and refined into strong, well-planned strategies, which are officially signed with a swift stroke of the pen.