The benchmark of excellence
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The Startup CEO Award celebrate the people, businesses and organisations doing exceptional work. Explore the categories and help recognise someone shaping the future through their achievement, leadership and impact.
First-Time CEO of the Year Award
For a chief executive in their first ever CEO role, at a business of any age, who has risen to it
About this category
The First-Time CEO of the Year Award recognises a chief executive in their first ever CEO role, at a business of any age, who has risen to it.
The judges look at what they inherited or built, progress since taking the role, how they have grown as a leader and early results.
Eligibility
Open to chief executives, managing directors and founders leading their business as CEO in any sector, of organisations based in or serving the region. Self-nominations and nominations made by others are both welcome. This must be their first role as a chief executive.
Judging criteria
- Entries are judged on what they inherited or built
- Progress since taking the role
- How they have grown as a leader and early results
Qualitative criteria
- What they set out to achieve as chief executive
- The decisions that made the difference
- How their people and stakeholders describe their leadership
Metrics
- Results in figures for the last one to three years
- People, customers or communities affected
- Recognition already received
Additional criteria
- Include a short account of the achievement
- The results in figures and a word from a board member
- Colleague or client
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