iod awards 11


Director of the Year, up to £4.99m: Bob Urie, chairman, Mediplus


International Director, up to £24.99m: Sponsored by HSBC


Kevin Kneebone, managing director, BACTEC International


New Business Director:


Stephen Boobyer, managing director, World of Books


Mediplus is a family-owned business established in 1986 to develop innovative, medical devices with a company philosophy of quality products, backed by high levels of service. It sells direct in the UK and via 40 distributors world-wide. Investment in education for staff, customers and international distributors is a key element in its growth strategy.


The company has a rich development pipeline of new, novel medical devices to keep it on the leading edge of technology and clinical practice.


Founder Bob Urie is an industrial chemistry graduate of Loughborough University, a chartered chemist and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.


BACTEC is an international explosive ordnance disposal and landmine clearance company, established in 1991. Kneebone joined the company in 2003 and has been instrumental in the technological and commercial development of the business worldwide, with export sales increasing by more than 250% since 2003.


BACTEC has operated in more than 48 countries, with offices in Australia, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Iraq, Mozambique, Libya and group headquarters in Kent. BACTEC places great emphasis in its corporate social responsibility, safety and staff.


With a background in engineering and international business development, Kneebone is a key member of the BACTEC senior management team.


International Director, over £25m: Sponsored by HSBC


Roger Clark, chairman, Beck Interiors


In 2004 Clark was instrumental in the acquisition of Beck Interiors, a diverse specialist fit-out contracting business operating throughout the UK and worldwide. Under Clark’s leadership, the following six years has seen uninterrupted profitability and organic growth with Beck developing into market leaders.


Through Clark’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the company, turnover has increased from £21.7m in 2004 to around £75m in 2010 (350% growth). Over the same period net profit has increased from £1m to


Chairman’s Award: Lesley Cowley OBE – CEO, Nominet


Cowley is CEO of Nominet – the organisation responsible for the smooth running of the .uk internet infrastructure.


Under Cowley’s leadership, the number of .uk domains passed 9 million, with more than £8m donated to Nominet Trust.


Respected within the international internet community, Cowley holds a key


position within ICANN as vice chair of the ccNSO.


An IoD member, she is also a fellow of The British Computer Society and The Chartered Management Institute. Cowley was a founding trustee of Nominet Trust and is a trustee of the Jenner Hall charity.


In 2011, she was awarded an OBE for services to the Internet and e-commerce.


an anticipated £7m (700% growth) despite the challenging economic conditions.


Today the business boasts an extensive repeat blue-chip client base and the Beck Brand name is synonymous with quality and reliable delivery of projects on time.


As part of Clark’s vision for the company’s future he has inspired the management team to participate in various share ownership strategies with bespoke structured schemes providing the opportunity to acquire the business whilst maintaining healthy equity release for the founding shareholders.


World of Books is an internet seller of used books to 60 countries. In two years Boobyer has helped to develop World of Books into the biggest seller of used and rare books in the UK.


World of Books provides a book collection and recycling service for charities aiming to generate maximum additional revenue for the charity retail sector whilst minimising environmental impact by recycling waste books instead of them going to landfill.


With a retailing background, before joining World of Books Boobyer spent many years in the charity retail sector where he developed and rolled out new trading formats.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – APRIL 2011


www.businessmag.co.uk


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