The panel of judges for 2008 is chaired by KV Kamath, managing director and CEO, ICICI Bank. The other judges include Ravi Venkatesan, chairman, Microsoft India, Shobhana Bhartia, vice-chairperson and editorial director, HT Media, Manish Kejriwal, senior managing director investment - India and Russia, Temasek Holdings Advisors India and R Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland.
Some of the past recipients of the E&Y awards include Tulsi Tanti (Suzlon), Mukesh D Ambani (Reliance), Brijmohan Lall Munjal (Hero Group),N R Narayana Murthy (Infosys), Ratan Tata (TATA Group), Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com), Michael Dell (Dell Computers), Howard Schultz (Starbucks Coffee), Jerry Yang (Yahoo) and Scot Kriens (Juniper Networks).
E&Y first created the award in 1986 in the US to honour the perseverance and ingenuity of those brilliant entrepreneurs who have created and sustained successful business ventures. Over the past 22 years the E&Yprogram has expanded to over 40 countries worldwide.
Since inception, over 70 leading Indian entrepreneurs have been honoured with these awards. In the past, award categories have included manufacturing, services; information technology, media and entertainment; healthcare & lifesciences, infrastructure; social sector; lifetime achievement; manager and start-up entrepreneurs.
Rajiv Memani, country managing partner, Ernst & Young India said, "Today, with the country's transformation in the global business order, our confidence in the Indian entrepreneurial spirit stands truly vindicated. I am confident that through the programme we will continue to encourage and celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship."
The national programmes from around the world culminate with the winners from each country being inducted into the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Academy in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The national winners also vie for the title of the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, which is decided by an eminent global jury. B Ramalinga Raju, Winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 is representing India at Monte Carlo for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrations from May 31 to June 1.
