Shortlist for the Families in Business Awards 2012 announced

After a tough selection process involving nominations and judging, CampdenFB is delighted to announce the 25 top family businesses and leaders in Europe.

The shortlist (below) for the CampdenFB Families in Business Awards, in association with Societe Generale Private Banking, is made up of a mixture of high-profile brands and people, and lesser-known companies and individuals – but there’s no doubt that each of those nominated is playing an extremely important role in the European economy.

“These shortlisted companies and individuals are at the vanguard of businesses in Europe, adhering to the best practices in family business governance and stewardship,” said David Bain, editorial director of Campden Wealth.

And with figures from European Family Businesses, the lobby group, showing that family businesses make up about 60% of all European companies and account for between 40% and 50% of employment in the region, there is little doubt that Europe needs such entrepreneurial, dynamic family businesses to recover.

''Wealthy families tend to build their fortunes through their entrepreneurial activities and Societe Generale Private Banking is already a long-standing and trustedpartner of many of Europe's leading family businesses,” said Jean-François Mazaud, head of Societe Generale Private Banking. ''Family businesses continue to represent an important and strategic area of development for us so we are delighted to be associated with these new awards, which give deserved recognition to these dynamic and innovative businesses.''

The final winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 9 July, which will be held at the Heineken Brewery, itself one of the Netherlands’ most iconic family-run businesses.

Top Family Business
De’Longhi
Gebrüder Weiss
Hermès Group
Lego Group
Ottobock

Top Family Business Leader
Rodolfo De Benedetti – Cir Group/Cofide
Jean-François Decaux & Jean-Charles Decaux – JCDecaux
Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller – Trumpf
Richard Oetker – Oetker Group
Juan Roig – Mercadona

Top Family Business Rising Star
James Ferragamo – Salvatore Ferragamo Group
Jens Fiege – Fiege Group
Sarah Flieg-Näf & Ramon Näf – Naef Group
Anne Kirstine Riemann – Riemann
Cristina Stenbeck – Investment AB Kinnevik

Top Non-Family Director
Per-Arne Andersson – Kinnarps AB
Hartmut Jenner – Kärcher
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp – Lego Group
Wolfgang Niessner – Gebrüder Weiss
Patrick Thomas – Hermès Group

Top Sustainable Family Business
Bavaria – The Netherlands
bioMérieux – France
Ikea – Sweden
Italcementi Group - Italy
Wates Group – The UK

For more information about the nomination process, please click here or watch this SGPB video. 

Please contact lauraevans@campden.com if you would like to attend the awards ceremony.