Bibby Line Group and Cammell Laird lead the winners at Liverpool Daily Post Regional Awards
Jun 25 2009 By Bill Gleeson
THE head of a 200-year- old Merseyside business was last night named Businessperson of the Year at the Liverpool Daily Posts Regional Business Awards.
Sir Michael Bibby, chief executive of Duke Street-based Bibby Line Group, received the accolade at a black tie dinner attended by 400 business leaders and owners at St Georges Hall.
Sir Michael collected his award from Philip Rooney, the Liverpool office managing partner of law firm DLA Piper, one of the Regional Business Awards sponsors.
Sir Michael is the sixth generation of the Bibby family to run the shipping and finance group since it was founded in 1807. He became group managing director at the age of 36, after his father, Sir Derek Bibby, retired from the firm.
Making the award, Mr Rooney paid tribute to Sir Michael, saying he had a "strong local pedigree".
Mr Rooney added: "This years winner leads a business which is no stranger to the turbulent seas of economic cycles. As a leader, he has built a strong team, ensuring employees feel empowered in the running of the business."
Sir Michael himself was clearly shocked to hear his name announced.
He said: "I feel far too young to win this award, and, to be honest, I am absolutely flabbergasted.
"It is a great honour to have been given this award and I am very proud. It is fantastic and I honestly had no idea I was going to receive it.
"Liverpool is a really great place to be based, and it is really good to be here."
The winner of the KPMG Business of the Year award was Birkenhead shipyard group Cammell Laird, which has had a remarkable 2008/09. The firm has secured major long-term contracts from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary for the whole of life maintenance of some of its vessels. Cammell Laird has also been shortlisted to build the flight decks of the Royal Navys next generation of aircraft carriers. The runners-up in the category were law firm Hill Dickinson and Birkenhead-based call centre business, The Contact Company.
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