GG2 Leadership and Diversity award winners

Dragons Den entrepreneur James Caan has been named Man of the Year at the 10th annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards at the Grosvenor Hotel in central London.

Other winners at the glittering ceremony included Yasmin Jetha, the Chief Operating Officer of The Financial Times who was named Woman of the Year and Ruby McGregor-Smith, the CEO of Mitie, who picked up the prestigious Hammer Award, which is awarded to the person who has broken through the proverbial glass ceiling.

The prestigious event, which celebrates Women and Leadership, was attended by 1,000 people including Annie Lennox, writer and broadcaster Meera Syal, Frank Bruno, Graham Le Saux and Ainsley Harriott.

The guest speaker on the night was Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister’s wife who chose to speak about the charity, White Ribbon Alliance, which aims to prevent mothers from dying during childbirth.

Other highlights of this year’s GG2 Awards included a three way
discussion about women in business between Meera Syal, Nina Kidwai,the
Chief Executive of HSBC India and Karren Brady, the Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club.

In total 11 awards were presented by blue chip companies and celebrities at the event, which is the premier ceremony highlighting and showcasing ethnic achievement.

Winners included Jayantibhai Chande KBE, who collected The Lifetime
Achievement Award, Rita Sharma, the founder of Best at Travel who was
named Entrepreneur of the Year and GG2’s Young Journalist of the Year
Nafeesa Shan who current works as a reporter with the Lancashire
Telegraph. A full list of this year’s winners can be found at the end of this release.

The Awards are adjudicated by an independent panel of judges who
include: Sarah Brown, President, Piggy Bank Kids and wife of Prime
Minister Gordon Brown; Terry Mansfield CBE, Director, Hearst
Corporation; Peter Preston, Former Editor, The Guardian; Barry Gardiner MP and Ramniklal Solanki CBE, Editor in Chief, Asian Media & Marketing Group.

Ramniklal Solanki CBE, Editor in Chief, Asian Media & Marketing Group
says, “This year’s GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards marked our 10th
year anniversary and proved bigger and better than ever before. They not only showcased women who have broken boundaries, smashed stereotypes and have been a driving force in business, but they also highlighted the importance of ethnic diversity in the workplace.”

Winners

GG2 Man of the Year – James Caan, Chief Executive Officer, Hamilton
Bradshaw

GG2 Woman of the Year – Yasmin Jetha, Chief Operating Officer, Financial
Times

GG2 Hammer Award – Ruby McGregor-Smith, Chief Executive Officer, MITIE

GG2 Lifetime Achievement Award – Jayantibhai Chande KBE

GG2 Entrepreneur of the Year – Rita Sharma, Founder, Best at Travel

GG2 Young Journalist of the Year – Nafeesa Shan, Reporter, Lancashire
Telegraph

GG2 International Business Leader of the Year – R C Patel, Chief
Executive Officer, Diplomat Companies USA and Mukesh (Mike) Patel,
President, Diplomat Companies USA

GG2 Civil Servant of the Year – Danny Lafayette, Chair of The Network,
Home Office

GG2 Achievement through Adversity – Dr June Bam-Hutchison

GG2 Football in the Community Award – Kadra Ege, Brent Ladies FC

GG2 Community Award – Dr Rami Ranger MBE, Managing Director, Sun Oil Limited and Gopalbhai Popat, Patron, Asian Foundation for Help