CNBC Africa, KPMG, GIBS partner for Africa Business Leaders Awards

Auditing and Professional Services firm KPMG and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) have partnered with ABN Events and CNBC Africa to find, select and analyse the top business leaders in Africa.

Gary Alfonso, MD of CNBC Africa, said at the launch of ABLA that the awards were aimed at creating the ultimate credible platform for business leadership success from South, East, North and West Africa.

"CNBC Africa is a powerful brand which is proud to put its name behind ABLA because we believe that these awards will position Africa's captains of industry as successful leaders to the world," said Alfonso.

Panel of judges

ABLA is supported by a high profile panel of judges, headed by Dr Yunus Suleman, chairman of KPMG. Prof Nick Binedell, director at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS); Russell Loubser, CEO at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE); Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO at the New Economic Path of African Development (NEPAD); and Godfrey Mutizwa, chief editor at CNBC Africa, make up the rest of the panel.

As convenor of the ABLA judging process, Dr Suleman emphasised the importance of showcasing economic and business leadership on the African continent.

"We want these awards to be truly pan-African, to truly represent what is happening on the African continent."

Suleman also stressed it was important for the awards to be credible and aspirational. He said it was therefore relevant for KPMG and GIBS to come on board as the intellectual and business school partners for ABLA. GIBS will also be doing the research process for the awards.

The five categories for the awards are:

• Lifetime Achievement Award;
  
• Young Business Leader of the Year Award;
  
• Africa Business Woman of the Year;
  
• Africa Entrepreneur of the Year; and
  
• Africa Business Leader of the Year

The search for Africa's top business leaders is now underway. The official ABLA website will call for nominations from 21 June 2011 and will close at the end of July. Three finalists per category will be profiled at the gala event in October.

For more information on ABLA, go to www.abla2011.com.