2018 WINNERS

At the inaugural British Ex-Forces in Business Awards on 17 May 2018, 500 business and military leaders gathered at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London for the largest ever celebration of veterans in business. Fifteen winners were announced, whittled down from over 250 nominations. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists and thank you for being fantastic business role models to service leavers.

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Winner: David Wilkins – Goldman Sachs

PRESENTED BY

Stewart Sharman, Deputy MD & Head of the Ex-Forces Programme, FDM Group (left)

YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Linsey Vance – Datapipe

PRESENTED BY

Lyanne Maclean, Head of Fleet Services, Royal Mail (left)

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Winner: John Chantry – Barclays

PRESENTED BY

Lieutenant General Mark Poffley, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (left)

INSPIRATION OF THE YEAR

Winner: Ally Musthan – Artisan People

PRESENTED BY

Diarmaid Walshe, Managing Director, Soldier On! (left)

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Winner: Richard Gill – Drone Defence

PRESENTED BY

Steve Kershaw, Partner & Military Network Chair, PwC (left)

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Winner: Tony Knights – Knights Group Worldwide

PRESENTED BY

Praseeda Nair, Editorial Director, Real Business (left)

NEW SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Daniel Frost – Marks and Spencer

PRESENTED BY

John Ponsonby, Former MD, Leonardo Helicopters UK (left)

ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR

Winner: Rowena Fell – EY

PRESENTED BY

Julian Lewis, MP for New Forest East & Chair of the Defence Select Committee (left)

TEAM LEADER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Colin Sellars – Cornwall Council

PRESENTED BY

Bruce Hodge, Managing Director, Bulldog Publishing (left)

SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Lee Whitworth – A&E Harmonious Compliance Training

PRESENTED BY

Major General Graham Binns (left)

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

Winner: Damon Tyler – NHS Calderdale CCG

PRESENTED BY

Howard Hughes, Director, Military & Government Business Unit, Kuehne + Nagel (left)

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Jaguar Land Rover

PRESENTED BY

Ben Farrell, Head of Central Operations and Transport, John Lewis (left)

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Winner: Jane Wainwright – PwC

PRESENTED BY

Suzanne Hughes, HR Chief Operating Officer, Santander UK (left)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Winner: Jon Lamonte – Transport for Greater Manchester

PRESENTED BY

General Sir Mike Jackson, Former Chief of the General Staff & Chairman, ForceSelect (left)

OUSTANDING ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Edward Osborne – Virtualstock

PRESENTED BY

Robbie Carroll, UK National Security & Public Safety, AWS (left)