EY names 7 category winners for Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Singapore awards

PROFESSIONAL services organisation EY on Monday (Oct 11) named 7 entrepreneurs as category winners of its 20th EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Singapore awards. They are:

• Aaron Tan, founder and CEO of Carro, winner in the digital automotive solutions category;
• Alex Chua, CEO of Goldbell Financial Services, winner in the financial services category;
• Jackson Aw, founder and CEO of Mighty Jaxx, winner in the collectibles and lifestyle products category;
• MiRXES' Zhou Lihan, co-founder and CEO, Zou Ruiyang, co-founder and CTO, and Isaac Ho, CIO, winners in the biotechnology category; and
• Walter de Oude, founder and deputy chairman of Singlife, winner in the digital insurance solutions category.

The winners were selected by an independent judging panel, and were assessed on six criteria: entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance/value creation, strategic direction, national and global impact, innovation and personal integrity/purpose-driven leadership.

One of the winners will be named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Singapore, and will represent Singapore at the annual EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) award in 2022 to compete with contenders from over 60 jurisdictions. Singapore's representative will be announced on Nov 22, 2021 at a business event.

Max Loh, Singapore and Brunei managing partner at Ernst & Young LLP, noted that the programme - currently in its 20th year - is increasingly seeing younger winners and businesses that are technologically driven or digital natives.

"Yet, whether 20 years ago or now, they embody qualities that continue to distinguish themselves from others: an unwavering conviction and spirit of innovation and risk-taking that enables them to forge through uncertainty and seize opportunities in adversity," he said.

EY also named the winners of two honorary awards. Djoko Susanto, founder of PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk in Indonesia, won this year's EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence award, which recognises successful South-east Asian businesses that contribute to the region's economy and community.

Meanwhile, Goldbell Group was named winner of the EY Family Business Award of Excellence, which recognises family businesses that have made signifi-cant socio-economic contributions and demonstrated the ability to harmonise between business and family matters.