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Identifying the stars of the boardroom table |
The Royal Bank of Scotland is once again generously sponsoring The Business Management Team Award at this year’s Thames Valley Business Awards 2009.
For the last three years, the title has been won by Wokingham-based Leasedrive Velo and the hunt is now on for the 2009 champion. Here, Robin Barnes, regional director Corporate Banking, is put under the spotlight as he explains what he and his fellow judges are looking for: Q. RBS is a regular supporter of the Thames Valley Business Awards, why do you believe it’s important to be involved in these type of events? A. We are the largest corporate and commercial bank in the UK and we depend on the continued success of our clients for our own success. It is therefore entirely appropriate that we seek out and recognise the very best of business behaviours from the management teams in the TV and these awards give us that opportunity. Q. The workplace has changed for management teams over the last 12/18 months, how do you think this will be reflected in the entries you see? A. The world is a tougher place, that’s for sure. I think it has two impacts – some companies will have delivered weaker performances in 2009 compared to previous years and so feel that they have nothing to celebrate, while other companies will be a little shy to come forward and show how well they are doing when so many other businesses are having a bad time. However I take the view that tough times bring the best to the fore and I think we need to encourage the management teams out there to be proud of the results they have achieved in these trying times. Q. As judges, what are you really looking for from prospective entrants? A. We want to see management teams who can demonstrate drive, commitment and adaptability – in other words, the ones who have tackled the challenges head on and led from the front. It will be thanks to the foresight they have shown that the company will have strong strategic plans in place and been able to maintain a strong financial performance. Q. What, in your view, will set the management team winners/runners-up apart from the rest? A. A team that has acted quickly and decisively to protect itself against the problems of the last 18 months and had the agility to respond to the opportunities that have also been presented to it. Q. Given the Leasedrive Velo team has won three years in a row, what will it take for someone to beat them this year? A. The Leasedrive team has achieved an incredible feat by winning three times in a row – effectively they have become the ‘Brazil’ of this award. However by the nature of it you can only stay at the top for so long and I am sure a new team will come through that displays the same skills and attributes that have made Leasedrive a stand out success, but have made even more of the opportunities in front of them in the last 12 months. |
