Ethiopian CEO Wins African CEO of the Year Award - 21 November, 2012

Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam has been awarded African CEO of the year from the African CEO Forum 2012 on Tuesday, November 20, 2012.

While Ethiopian CEO, Tewolde won the African CEO of the Year award, three other companies also won in different categories for their commitment and accomplishments in four key areas: promotion of Africa’s private sector; strengthening regional integration; development of intra-African trade; and social and environmental responsibility.

Ethiopian CEO was given the African CEO of the Year Award whose specific category are: vision and leadership; pan-African scope of the strategy employed; type of modern governance and financial transparency; and quality of social, human and environmental policy.

"I am honored by the award. The award is a recognition of all employees of Ethiopian whose tireless and continuous dedication and hard work is making Ethiopian Airlines the leading aviation company in Africa," said Tewolde.

The list of nominees for the inaugural African CEO Awards was quite long and impressive too, 37 in total, vying for four awards: Private Equity Investor of t he Year, International Corporation of the Year, African Company of the Year and African CEO of the Year. The winners were chosen by a panel of 12 jurors composed of well-known figures from African businesses as well as consulting and media companies.

The jurors also recognized Tewolde as being at the helm of one of the most dynamic and profitable airlines in Africa reaching 70 international destinations and for being the first African company to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner last September.

Organized under the auspices of the African Development Bank and Jeune Afrique Group. The African CEO Awards is a thumbs-up for companies and investors who have demonstrated continued determination to advance the continent’s development by virtue of their promotion and development of the African private sector, intra-African trade, regional integration as well as social and environmental responsibility.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Africa, made its maiden international flight to Cairo in 1946 and now the Airline provides dependable services to 70 international destinations spanning four continents.

Ethiopian is proud to be a Star Alliance Member. The Star Alliance network is the leading global airline network offering customers convenient worldwide reach and a smoother travel experience. The Star Alliance network offers more than 21,555 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries.

Ethiopian is a multi-award winner for its commitment and contributions towards the development and growth of the African aviation industry and in recognition of its distinguished long-haul operations enhanced by the introduction of new routes and products. Recently, Ethiopian won gold in the African Airline of the Year 2011/2012 Awards organized by the African Aviation News Portal. Ethiopian also received the 2011 AFRAA award for being consistently profitable over the years and has won the "AFRICAN CARGO AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2011 Award" for its excellence in air cargo. Ethiopian also won the 2012 "African Airline of the Year Award" from Air Transport Quarterly Magazine.

With its acquisition of and firm orders for several new modern fleet, the airline is well positioned to pursue aggressively the implementation of its Vision 2025 strategic plan to become the leading aviation group in Africa.