Recruitment and HR winners announced

"Recruitment and HR professionals can easily be regarded as the backbone of our local economy," said Natalie Stephan, head of trade marketing and CRM at Avusa Media. "They help drive the transformation and growth from the ground up - across the length and breadth of South Africa, yet they receive little or no admiration for their part in the greater picture."

"The results gathered from the 2011 AMARAs nominations are testament to the work that has been done to encourage those in recruitment, business and advertising to nominate worthy candidates in each category whilst also promoting the recruitment and HR professions," added Stephan. "It's evident from the nominations received that more and more industry leaders are aware of the impact that recruitment and HR professionals have on their businesses."

The winners announced in the Private sector categories were:

• HR Director of the Year (Private): Dr Barney Delport at Nationwide Security Holdings - SMADA Group
  
• Recruitment Officer of the Year (Private): Ilze Johnston at Anglo American Platinum
  
• Most Creative Recruitment Advertisement of the Year (Private): Ayanda Mbanga Communications for Shoprite

The winners announced in the Public sector categories were:

• HR Director of the Year (Public): Dan Vukela at the Department of Environmental Affairs
  
• HR Officer of the Year (Public): Anker van Tonder at Eskom Holdings
  
• Most Creative Recruitment Advertisment of the Year (Public): Human Communications for National Treasury

Last but not least was undoubtedly one of the most deserved wins on the night, that of the Publisher's Award which went to recruitment stalwart Paul Brand of The Niche Agency in Johannesburg.

"Paul is one of the leading recruitment professionals the industry itself has had the honour of recruiting," explained Enver Groenewald, GM of advertising revenue and strategic communications at Avusa Media. "Besides his outstanding reputation within the industry, Paul also seamlessly demonstrates what true dedication and passion for one's profession really looks like."

The full list of winners - listed in order of first, second and third place - follows:

HR Director of the Year (Private)

1. Dr Barney Delport at Nationwide Security Holdings - SMADA Group
   
2. Robert Goff at Sanlam
   
3. Philip Grobler at Deloitte & Touche
   

Recruitment Officer of the Year (Private)

1. Ilze Johnston at Anglo American Platinum
   
2. Belinda Coetzee at DAV Professional Placement Group
   
3. Shantal Singh at Clientèle Life
   

Most Creative Recruitment Advertisement of the Year (Private)

1. Ayanda Mbanga Communications for Shoprite
   
2. Human Communications for BIC
   
3. Human Communications for Lonmin
   

HR Director of the Year (Public)

1. Dan Vukela at the Department of Environmental Affairs
   
2. Anton Grobler at the University of South Africa
   
3. Njabulo Mashigo at the National Treasury
   

HR Officer of the Year (Public)

1. Anker van Tonder at Eskom Holdings
   
2. Chuene Nong at the Limpopo Department of Agriculture
   
3. Shirley Tjiane at Land Bank
   

Most Creative Recruitment Advertisement of the Year (Public)

1. Human Communications for the National Treasury
   
2. The Working Earth for Denel
   
3. Gear Advertising for the University of Zululand
   

Recruitment Advertising Agency of the Year

1. Ayanda Mbanga Communications
   
2. Human Communications
   
3. Strategy Recruitment Marketing
   

Recruitment Solutions Agency of the Year

1. DAV Professional Placement Group
   
2. Morvest Human Capital Management
   
3. HMD Staffing Services
   

Publisher's Award

1. Paul Brand at The Niche Agency