In the business world, boldness matters more than ever. The willingness to venture where others fear to tread and to push the edge of the proverbial envelope. These are the qualities that will make the vital difference in these challenging economic times. That is why the Financial Times is partnering with ArcelorMittal to launch the Boldness in Business awards, an annual venture that will highlight companies and entrepreneurs who are innovative and dynamic.

As a global news organisation, the FT has followed its instincts and searched for boldness around the world. We are proud these awards feature candidates from Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia. The winners themselves were selected by a panel of distinguished judges who based their decision on a short-list drawn up by senior FT journalists.