Alfred Pisani at EY’s World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award 2017

Having won the first edition of the EY Malta’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award this year, Alfred Pisani, Chairman, Corinthia Group, represented Malta at the annual World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards held in Monaco’ Salle des Etoiles. He was among 59 country winners from 49 countries all vying for the title.

The award was won by Murad AlKatib, President and CEO of Saskatchewan-based AGT Food and Ingredients Inc.

Murad started AGT Food and Ingredients in 2003 and it has since grown into the world’s largest vertically integrated supply chain for lentils, chickpeas and peas. The business went public in 2007 and has revenues of $1.49b, with more than 2,000 employees on five continents.

AGT Food and Ingredients has been growing revenue sustainably by an average of more than $100m each year for the past five years. The company exports approximately 23% of the world trade in lentils to more than 120 countries around the globe.

Mark Weinberger, EY Global Chairman and CEO, says: “Through his vision and approach, Murad has transformed an industry and today leads a company which has seen exceptional growth in the last decade. He also demonstrates a clear purpose by embodying compassionate entrepreneurship, using his capabilities to make a positive impact by feeding millions and edu- cating refugee families. Murad’s success and passion make him an exemplary EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year winner.”

Ronald Attard, Managing Partner, EY Malta, says: “We worked hard to put together the first edition of EY Malta’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. But I am glad to say that the hard work was rewarded by the very healthy and representative response from very worthy candidates. Alfred Pisani, the winner, did us proud. Not only in Malta but also in Monaco where he competed with today’s entrepreneurial movers and shakers on a global level. The success of this initiative certainly encourages us to keep taking this annual event to higher heights in the years to come.”

Alfred Pisani, Chairman, Corinthia Group, says: “I was honored to be Malta’s Representative for the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year. It is always rewarding when Malta is given the opportunity to showcase the potential of its people and overall importance in the Mediterranean.

“The international gathering of every office of E&Y represented at this convention provided a wonderful networking opportunity and certainly showcased the global reach and expertise of E&Y.

“On a personal level, I must express my complete satisfaction at the proficiency of the event’s organization, which no doubt demanded tremendous effort in looking after a thousand plus peo- ple with clockwork precision, ensuring that every representative felt the importance of his presence.”

The independent judging panel in Monaco was chaired by Jim Nixon of Nixon Energy Investments (US). Joining him were: • Rosario Bazán of DanPer

(Peru) • Judy Chan of Grace Vineyard

(China – Hong Kong/Macau) • Diane Foreman of Chelsea

Group Ltd (New Zealand) • Ilkka Paananen of Supercell

(Finland) • Rosemary Squire of Trafalgar

Entertainment Group (UK) • Manny Stul of Moose Enterprise Holdings & Controlled Entities (Australia)