The top 25 family businesses and leaders in Europe have been decided after a tough selection process.
In a shortlist compiled by campdenfb.com for the CampdenFB Families in Business Awards, in association with Societe Generale Private Banking, the firms and leaders nominated are said to be currently playing an extremely important role in the European economy.
Nominated for Top Family Business are De'Longhi, Gebruder Weiss, Hermes Group, Lego Group and Ottobock. The five Top Sustainable Family Businesses are Bavaria, bioMerieux, Ikea, Italcementi Group and Wates Group.
In the Top Family Business Leader category, the five leaders nominated are Rodolfo De Benedetti of Cir Group/Cofide, Jean-Francois Decaux and Jean-Charles Decaux of JCDecaux, Nicola Leibinger-Kammuller of Trumpf, Richard Oetker of Oetker Group and Jaun Roig of Mercadona.
Figures from European Family Business - cited by efb-geef.eu - suggest that family firms make up 60 per cent of all European companies and account for between 40 - 50 per cent of employment in the region. These make obvious the importance of the family business when it comes to market recovery.
Jean-Francois Mazaud, head of Societe Generale Private Banking, commented on the nominations: "Family businesses continue to represent an important and strategic area of development for us so we are delighted to be associated with these new awards, which give deserved recognition to these dynamic and innovative businesses."
The final winners will be announced on July 9th.