Wales Business Leader Scoops UK Honour

Anna Bastek has become the first ever Welsh director to win an award at the Institute of Directors.

Swansea (I-Newswire) December 13, 2012 - Welsh business leader Anna Bastek has triumphed in the UK-wide 2012 Institute of Directors (IoD) Director of the Year Awards, held in conjunction with Glenfiddich. Directors from a broad range of businesses from the north, south, east and west of the UK were saluted at a glittering lunch event in London on Friday, October 5.

Anna Bastek, of Wolfestone Translation, Swansea, won the Director in a Small Business category. Three Welsh directors won highly commended honours - Jason Edwards, of Edwards Coaches, Llantwit Fardre, Pontypridd (Family business); Roger Evans, of Schaeffler UK, Llanelli (Small Business); and Andrew Padmore, of Egnida, Cwmbran, Torfaen (Corporate Responsibility).

Anna came to the UK from Poland in 2004, co-founded Swansea-based Wolfestone in 2006 and is already a multiple award winner. Her business has tripled in size in the past 2 years and is the largest language services provider in Wales.

IoD Wales director Robert Lloyd Griffiths said: “Anna and all our Welsh entries represent all that’s good about enterprise on this side of Offa’s Dyke; they’re hard-working individuals who have key leadership roles in wonderful modern businesses.

“There’s a great deal of effort amongst leaders to help steer Wales and the UK away from difficult economic times and our winners are brilliant examples of that drive and skill.”

Other Welsh leaders shortlisted for the 2012 IoD Director of the Year Awards were: Steve Dalton, of Sony UK Technology Centre, Pencoed, Bridgend (Large company); Gareth Jones, Carbon Zero UK, St Asaph, Denbighshire (Young director); Emma Saysell, St David’s Hospice, Newport, Gwent (SME); and Mark Woolfenden, of Afonwen Laundry, Pwllheli, Gwynedd (Family business).

Hundreds of business leaders gathered in London for the awards final. Host was high-profile politician turned broadcaster and author, Michael Portillo.