DDI Partners with CNBC for the Asia Business Leader Awards

For the past eight years, DDI has been involved as both a judge and sponsor for the prestigious CNBC Asia Business Leader Awards. Watch a brief video of John Casey, CNBC’s Vice President for International News and Programming, explain the award process and DDI’s role.


The annual Awards celebrate and recognize vision, excellence and the spirit of achievement of Asian business leaders. As CNBC’s Research Partner, DDI conducts in-depth, face-to-face interviews with shortlisted CEOs to assess their leadership qualities based on criteria such as strategy formulation and execution, talent management, innovation, culture, and social contribution. In 2010, DDI interviewed 53 CEOs across 11 locations: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

“We're pleased to have DDI as our Research Partner for CNBC's Asia Business Leaders Awards,” says Satpal Brainch, Managing Director of CNBC Asia Pacific. “DDI plays a critical role in the selection process, continually outdoing themselves in capturing the strengths and achievements of the candidates, and always managing to give our judges a selection of the best corporate leaders Asia has to offer.”

In November 2010, DDI’s Rich Wellins presented the Asia Talent Management Award to Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, CEO and Chairman of Ayala Corporation at the 9th Asia Business Leaders Awards in a ceremony broadcast live around the world from Singapore. Mr. Ayala was recognized with the Asia Talent Management Award for his personal involvement in supporting and nurturing leadership talent within the company. Ayala Corporation is one of the biggest, most respected, and most widely diversified conglomerates in the Philippines, with leadership positions in real estate development, banking and financial services, telecommunications, electronics and information technology, water infrastructure development and management, and other domestic and international operations.

The other ABLA winners are as follows:

• Asia Business Leader Award – Mr. AM Naik, Chairman & Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro Ltd. for inspiring growth for his company, while keeping in step with global trends.
• Asia Innovator Award – Mr. Yancey Hai, CEO of Delta Electronics, Taiwan for his leadership in an organization that has innovation at its very core. 
• Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Francis Yeoh, Managing Director of YTL Corporation BHD for his ability to translate the company’s success into benefits for the community. 
• Asia’s Viewers Choice Award – Mr. Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman & CEO of HCL Infosystems who received the most votes by CNBC’s viewers in Asia Pacific. 
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Sir Gordon Wu, Chairman of Hopewell Holdings whose vision and management abilities have helped steer his company successfully both regionally and in the global marketplace.

Visit abla.cnbc.com for more information on the ABLA and past winners.