Vikram Akula gets Ernst & Young ‘Business Transformation Entrepreneur’ award

Microfinance Focus, Feb 17, 2010: Vikram Akula, Chairperson and Founder of India’s largest microfinance company SKS Microfinance Pvt. Ltd., is named the Business Transformation Entrepreneur of the year. The award was announced at a function held in Mumbai on Wednesday night.

Anand G. Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group, has been named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year 2009. The Lifetime Achievement Award has been given to N. Vaghul of ICICI Bank for his contribution to the Indian financial sector.

The jury was chaired by M. Damodaran, former Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

“The winners are outstanding individuals who have not only built best-in-class businesses, but have demonstrated tremendous resilience and tenacity in dealing with uncertainty, and have also displayed the ability to put India back on track quickly,” said Ernst & Young CEO and Country Managing Partner, Rajiv Memani. “Today, our entrepreneurs stand out as a beacon to the world. These individuals may represent diverse sectors, but are united in their desire to positively impact the society and wider community.”

Ernst & Young India launched the awards in 1999. Earlier recipients of the award include N R Narayana Murthy, Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Brijmohan Lall Munjal, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Subhash Chandra, Anil Agarwal and Tulsi Tanti.

Mr. Mahindra will represent India at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in Monte Carlo, Monaco in May this year. Harsh C. Mariwala, Chairman & Managing Director, Marico, is the winner in the manufacturing category.

The award for the Manager Entrepreneur of the year has gone to O. P. Bhatt, Chairman & Managing Director, State Bank of India. The award for the Start-up Entrepreneur of the year is given to Amit Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, A2Z Maintenance & Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd.

The services category award has gone to Shashi Kiran Shetty, Chairman & Managing Director, Allcargo Global Logistics.

The Entrepreneur of the year healthcare & life sciences award has gone to Pankaj R. Patel, Chairman & Managing Director, Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd.

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