The Financial Times celebrates ‘Boldness in Business’

The Financial Times today announces the launch of the first Boldness in Business Awards in collaboration with ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel company. The new global business awards will celebrate the boldest and most innovative businesses and decision makers in mature and emerging markets. The awards will run annually through 2011.

The 2009 awards will seek to recognise those companies and individuals that have grasped the opportunity for innovation and change, and have taken calculated risks to stand out during the current tumultuous financial climate. Judges for the awards include:

•Lakshmi Mittal, chairman and CEO, ArcelorMittal

•Lionel Barber, editor, Financial Times

•Terry Smith, executive chairman, Collins Stewart

•Luke Johnson, chairman, Channel 4 Television

•Dan Bogler, managing editor, Financial Times

•Anne Meaux, president and founder, Image Sept

•Julian Birkinshaw, professor of strategic and international management, London Business School

The six award categories will represent the critical decisions faced by businesses and individuals during the current market. Drivers of Change, Corporate Responsibility, Environment, Emerging Markets, Entrepreneurship and Lifetime Achievement.

In addition to the six categories there is also a special FT Readers’ Award for the boldest company of 2008 voted on by readers of the FT and FT.com. The shortlist for this award includes Nintendo, Twitter, American Apparel, HCL Technologies and Santander. Readers interested in voting can do so at: http://www.ft.com/cms/9c8e16ea-cb79-11dd-ba02-000077b07658.html

Lakshmi Mittal, chairman and CEO, ArcelorMittal, said: “ArcelorMittal recognises ‘boldness’ as a critical theme for success in business and these new awards aim to reward this attribute. The FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards are designed to celebrate those businesses that have excelled during the hostile markets of 2008 and will continue to excel in 2009 through ingenuity and risk-taking. This will be the most important calendar event of 2009 for business and finance professionals.”

Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with ArcelorMittal to introduce the first Boldness in Business Awards. These awards will be a key event for the global business and finance communities as companies and their leaders must become increasingly bold, entrepreneurial and responsible in their decision making.”

Winners of the FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Financial Times editor Lionel Barber on 19 March 2009 at the Tate Modern, London.

The Financial Times will publish a bespoke magazine and micro-site containing news and results from the event following the awards ceremony in March.

For further information, please contact:

Kristina Eriksson, Financial Times, +44 20 7873 4961 or kristina.eriksson@ft.com