The 2014 finalists for the annual Rising Star Awards have been announced. These are young, talented business people under the age of 40 who have been selected from hundreds of entries. Five finalists were selected in each of the eleven business sector categories.
Each of the 55 finalists will now be exposed to a vigorous final judging process before the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Monday, 28 July at the Hilton in Sandton.
Finalists by category:
- Entrepreneur
Zuko Mandlakazi of Six Sib Inc
Asanda Saule of Fiction Imitates Reality
Harry Welby-Cooke of Action Coach
Anda Maqanda of AM Groups
Justine Botes of Prize Voucher
- ICT
Noleen Ilunga-Muleya of Wipro
Thato Padi of Innovation Group (Pty) Ltd
Clara Namnick of Business Connexion
Muthe Rambuwani of PCubed
Tamika Mercedes of Innovation Group (Pty) Ltd
- Banking & financial services
Marlon Reddy of Standard Bank
Sonja Pascoe of Standard Bank
Caren Robb of AFB
Isabella Marta de Langa of Standard Bank
Mayandree Govender of Standard Bank
- Logistics & supply chain
Francois van Rensburg of Dovetail Business Solutions
Leeanne Soobramoney of The Point Of Purchase Warehouse
Olebogeng Sydney Seamrco of Transnet Freight Rail
Emma Gwala of Transnet Port Terminals
Khanyi Mamba of DHL Express
- Energy & chemicals
Mxolisi Bhebhe of Engen Petroleum
Lisa Ferraz of Engen Petroleum
Adriana de Beer of Sasol
Nobleman Kani of Engen Petroleum
Nthabiseng Mutisya of Engen Petroleum
- Manufacturing, retail & FMCG
Joanne Hodgson of Ellerine Holding Limited
Millicent Molete of Nestle
Andrew Jackson of DionWired
Kim Jensen of Aspen Pharmacare
Werner Beukes of Ellerine Holding Limited
- Media & advertising
Lee-Anne Coosner of Media24
Xolane Ngobozana of Viruz Empire Entertainment
Theogaren Moodley of Bonngoe.tv
Joey Legodi of SABC
Wayne Hempe of TBWA\HUNT\LACARIS
- Mining & industrials
Glen Nwaila of Sibanye Gold Limited
Neo Hutiri of ArcelorMittal
Brendan Marais of ArcelorMittal
Frances Phillips of ArcelorMittal
Ronald Naidoo of ArcelorMittal
- Professional services
Jutta Villet of DAV Professional Placement Group
Rohitesh Dhawan of KPMG
Silas Mohale of PwC
Angie Botes of Dante Personnel Recruitment (Pty) Ltd
Georgina Smit of Arup
- Public & private service
Wiebke Toussaint of Engineers Without Borders South Africa
Benita Olivier of University of the Witwatersrand
Thandeka Mazibuko of Sinomusanothando Community Development
Mashilo Mpya of MSC Business College
Mandisa Singata of Effective Care Research Unit, East London
- Tourism & hospitality
Marvin Theron of City Lodge Hotels
Dominic Fry of Hilton Hotels
Malcolm Fynn of Hilton Hotels
Craig Donaldson of Hilton Hotels
Abia Rakoma of City Lodge Hotels
Charity auction at awards
Funds for the GreenSmile Foundation, the official charity of choice, will be raised at the awards ceremony. Sought-after items will be auctioned, including a limited edition replica of the World Cup winning jersey and medal, of which only 200 were produced.
Business Connexion, Sasol, Standard Bank, Hilton Worldwide, ArcelorMittal, CEB and ACSA. Partners of the Rising Star Awards include Upstage Productions, Rand Refinery, USB, Who's Who, Mulderbosch Wine and Young & Able are sponsors of the awards. For more, go to www.risingstar.co.za.
