2006 DIAGEO AFRICA BUSINESS REPORTING AWARDS
Panel of judges announced
London, 9 May 2006
Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business, today announced the panel of judges for the 2006 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, which recognise excellence in reporting on the business environment in Africa.
The judges are: Peter Woicke (former Executive Vice President, International Finance Corporation); Louis Michel (European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Development); Zeinab Badawi (Broadcaster); Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu (former CEO, New Partnership for Africa's Development); Dr Alhaji Bamanga Tukur (Executive President, African Business Roundtable); and Dr Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke (Director General, Nigerian Stock Exchange).
Diageo's Chief Executive, Paul Walsh, will chair the panel to select winners for the six awards - Best Journalist, Best Published Feature, Best Television Feature, Best Radio Feature, Best Website and Best Publication - which will be presented on 29 June 2006 at a gala ceremony at The Inner Temple, London.
Commenting on this year's panel of judges, Mr Walsh said, "I am delighted to be chairing this panel of esteemed individuals with such wide and expert knowledge of Africa's business environment. As a panel, we share the belief that improving perceptions of Africa, in particular of its business environment, is a fundamental step towards increasing investment on the continent."
"Diageo established these awards to recognise those journalists and editors who have gone the extra mile to provide high quality coverage of Africa's business environment. We believe it is important to honour their achievements because the media has an important role to play in communicating Africa's investment appeal. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all interested parties to consider entering."
Building on the success of the previous two years, the 2006 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards include a new award for Best Radio Feature. First presented in 2004, the Awards are a practical contribution to promoting more balanced reporting on the business environment in Africa. The six awards are open to all journalists, editors and photographers covering business in Africa. The closing date for entries is 31 May 2006.
For more information, including further information on this year's judges and full details of how to enter, please visit www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com
CONTACT
Anita Ferns, Awards Secretary, Diageo Africa, Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London, NW10 7HQ. anita.ferns@diageo.com +44 (0) 20 8978 6506
Bev Burnham, Corporate Relations Manager, Diageo Africa, Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London, NW10 7HQ. bev.burnham@diageo.com +44 (0) 20 8978 6587
NOTES TO EDITORS
Diageo plc
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business. With its global vision, and local marketing focus, Diageo brings to consumers an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer categories including Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Cuervo, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray, and Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo trades in some 180 countries around the world and is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com
Diageo Africa
Diageo Africa is active, particularly in brewing, but also in distilling, in the majority of the sub-Saharan African countries. For Guinness, in particular, the connection with Africa is a long one; the first recorded exports of Guinness to Africa were to Sierra Leone in 1827. Now Guinness is brewed in over 20 countries throughout Africa and is exported to many others. The popularity of the brand is going from strength to strength in Africa - Nigeria is the third largest Guinness market in the world. Diageo brands are enjoyed in more than 40 African countries.
Diageo Africa is the second largest Diageo market by volume (after North America), and with 4,500 employees, accounts for around 20% of Diageo workforce worldwide. Our contribution to the continent is significant, with £230 million paid in tax to African governments in the last year.
Several of the larger Diageo companies in Africa are quoted on local stock exchanges. Guinness Nigeria, for example, has over 60,000 shareholders. All of these companies have active corporate social responsibility programmes, covering initiatives in water, health, education and other areas of value to the communities in which we operate. |
