Business & Money | Thursday 21 April, 2016 3:52 pm |

Turki Al Yahya, CEO of Whites, has been named Saudi Arabia’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016. Turki was chosen from a group of 8 finalists, who are innovative and inspiring business leaders. The award was presented this morning at Laylaty ballroom, under the patronage of HE Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah Minister of Commerce and Industry. 

Ahmed Reda, Office Managing Partner, Jeddah and EOY Leader at EY says:

 

“We congratulate Turki Al Yahya on being named Saudi Arabia’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016. Turki embodies true entrepreneurial spirit and is a great role model for any aspiring entrepreneur. He demonstrated an outstanding personal commitment to his/her business and stood out as an exceptional leader. Turk represents a new generation of Saudi trail blazers that represent the shift to technology and new thinking in business. We at EY are proud of this association. Turki will join the Entrepreneur Of The Year award winners from over 50 countries at Monte Carlo in June 2016, where he will be inducted into the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Academy and will vie for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year award.”

After an extensive process of evaluation, Turki was chosen as the winner by an independent panel of judges. The judging process was based on numerous criteria that included entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance, strategic direction, social impact and influence. 

 

Last year, the award was won by Lateefa AlWaalan from Yatooq and Kaswara Al-Khatib, Chairman and CEO of UTURN Entertainment was the winner in 2014. The EOY program in 2008, which featured entrepreneurs from across the MENA region, was won by Sobhi Batterjee, President and CEO of Saudi German Hospitals Group. The same year, a new category, Emerging EOY, was added to the awards. It was won by Sheikha Nadia Aldossary, CEO and Partner of Al Sale Eastern Company. Nadia was also the first women to become a finalist of the Middle East EOY awards.

 

The EOY program, which celebrates the success of entrepreneurs who build and lead successful, growing and dynamic businesses, is run in 150 cities across 60 countries. The awards recognize outstanding entrepreneurs for their vision, innovation, courage, and leadership in building and growing successful businesses - businesses that influence the way we live, the products and services we depend on, and the economic vibrancy of our local communities and global markets.