Craig Errington, chief executive of Birmingham-based Wesleyan Assurance Society, has won the prestigious Institute of Directors’ national award for Director of the Year 2011.
Also taking the Director of the Year (Large Company) category, he was presented with the honour by Michael Portillo at a glittering ceremony at the Lancaster Hotel in London.
Mr Errington said he was “surprised and delighted”.
He added: “I put it down to three things – 33 per cent the professional development I have received from the IoD, 33 per cent my team and 34 per cent the fantastic support and understanding I have received from my wife Gail.”
Craig is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Director. The status of chartered director is the IoD’s top qualification for excellence at board level and requires ongoing commitment to continuous professional development.
Having joined the Wesleyan Assurance Society in 1991 as a financial adviser, he progressed rapidly through the company with eight successive promotions and a number of awards achieved in every role carried out. Mr Errington has been chief executive since 2005.
Since taking on the role, the level of sales increase has gone from 54 per cent in 2005 to 82 per cent in 2010. In 2011 the business has continued its upward trajectory despite the difficult economic climate.
Regional chairman John Rider said: “This is a fantastic coup for the IoD in the West Midlands. Craig won our large business category award at the Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston on March 31 and as a regional winner qualified for the national awards. The IoD has 12 regions across the UK so the competition was really intense.
“Despite the trying times I congratulate Craig for continuing to manage the business in line with his long term strategy.
“We were also thrilled that out of the five nominations from our region, Mohammed Hussain, managing director of Mobil Fun, was highly commended in the important category reserved for Young Directors.”
Miles Templeman, IoD director-general, said: “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Craig. He is an outstanding winner and I wish him and Wesleyan Assurance Society more success over the years to come. He has beaten some incredible competition from across the country to win the ultimate accolade.”
The principal event sponsor was Samsung Electronics.
