Loewy's Charlie Hoult Represents Design Sector in the CBI Growing Business Awards

Loewy CEO Charlie Hoult is one of five individuals short-listed for the CBI Growing Business Awards' Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Independently co-hosted by the CBI and Real Business, the Growing Business Awards have been hailed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as "the business equivalent of the Oscars" and are considered to be the premier showcase of enterprise in the United Kingdom. The Entrepreneur of the Year award is a major business accolade and is awarded to truly impressive individuals who have contributed to their company and industry sector, as well as the wider business community.

"It's fantastic to see that the marketing sector is finally being recognised by big business. Being selected as a finalist proves that our sector has got enough clout to compete in the big league against traditional players like utilities, finance, internet and property," says Charlie.

Charlie's entry for the award highlights his extensive and varied entrepreneurial experience, focusing on his achievements as Loewy CEO, where he has helped build the business from 60 people to 400 strong, raising sales from £6 million to £47 million, with annual earnings of £7.5 million - all within just three years. Loewy was recently named the UK's No. 2 independent agency in Design Week's current rankings - and No. 1 for creativity and effectiveness, with three Presidents of the Design and Art Directors Association (D&AD) on the team.

The entry also highlights Charlie's relaxed, empowering leadership style, and his passion for people, acute business sense and inherent entrepreneurial flair.

Charlie adds: "This is a testament that we're on the right track, and credit must be shared with the entire Loewy team, without whose support, hard work and dedication none of this would have been possible. We're all really excited to be representing our industry!"

The finalists will be judged by an eminent panel of industry leaders, including former Financial Times editor and current director general of the CBI Richard Lambert, last year's winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year award, Dr David Milne, CEO of Scottish semi-conductor business Wolfson Microelectronics, Biotech entrepreneur Sir Chris Evans, and entrepreneurs/angel investors Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden, from BBC2's "Dragons' Den."

The winners will be announced at the end of November at a black tie gathering of A-list entrepreneurs, held at the London Marriot Grosvenor Square.

Other categories in the awards ceremony include: New Product of the Year, International Company of the Year, Innovative Company of the Year, Technology in Business, Customer Excellence Award, Young Company of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year and Entrepreneurs' Entrepreneur of the Year.

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