Crown Paints scores a double,declared top firm at COYA

Representatives of crown paints kenya limited hold their trophy after winning the 2014 overall company of the year at the COYA Aawards held at the safaripark hotel yesterday. PHOTO DAVID GICHURU

 

Crown Paints completed a double after being declared the top firm and its leader the best CEO during the Company of the Year Awards (COYA) ceremony on Friday.

Company's Chief Executive Officer, Rakesh Rao, was also voted CEO of the Year for what judges termed as strong leadership and focus to surpass strategic objectives in his company.

Mr Rao was also lauded for having a great impact in both customer and staff satisfaction built towards a world-class company. While accepting the award, Rao dedicated the award to his team of staff and customers whom he described as having an endearing spirit to the company.

“I have a hard working team that has given their blood and sweat to get this award. This is for them,” he said during the event at Safari Park Hotel. Crown Paints also carried home the trophy in the Productivity and Quality and the Leadership and management categories.

The manager of the year award went to Emily Kamunde-Osoro, head of human resource at Jubilee Insurance while the Innovation, Information and Knowledge management categories, the County Provident Fund won whereas Githunguri Dairies bagged the corporate citizenship and environment award.

Jubilee Insurance was awarded for the human resource management and the financial management categories. Other winners in the SME of the year awards were Tropikal Brands, Pewin Cabs, Capital Sacco, Lean Energy Solutions and Metropolitan Hospital. Cube Movers won the 2014 overall SME of the year.

Last year, Britam was named Company of the Year and and its leader the best CEO Benson Wairegi, the head of the listed investment firm, bagged the CEO of the Year top prize in the awards dominated by financial services firms.

Promotes distinction

COYA is organised by the Kenya Institute of Management to celebrate competitiveness and efficiency among organisations using a globally-recognised business framework known as OPI.

OPI measures the performance of businesses against seven key indicators which include leadership and management, human resource focus, customer orientation and marketing, financial management, information, innovation and knowledge management.

The participating companies are also rated for their corporate social responsibility, environmental focus and productivity and quality. The Company of the Year Awards was conceptualised between 1997 and 1999 by the Kenya Institute of Management to recognise achievements made to enhance organisations’ management capabilities and performance excellence.

Over the years, organisers noted the awards have nurtured a spirit that promotes distinction and integrity in management practices thereby increasing local competitiveness and performance in an increasingly global world.