 Press Releases22nd June 2005 Yorkshire Post John Lyon Science & Technology Entrepreneur of the Year for the region. Yorkshire businessman Martin Penny of Silsden-based haircare company, Jemella - which is responsible for the high profile GHD hair tongs - was named the North's Entrepreneur of the Year at a prestigious awards ceremony last night. Mr Penny beat off stiff competition to walk away with the Consumer Products Entrepreneur of the Year award followed by the overall Entrepreneur of the Year title at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at Leeds Town Hall. He was joined in the line-up of Yorkshire award recipients by John Lyon of Leeds-based Photopharmica Group, who was named Science & Technology Entrepreneur of the Year for the region. A major international awards programme, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards seek to recognise and celebrate the achievement of outstanding entrepreneurs within successful growing, dynamic businesses. Martin Penny was commended by the judges for playing out a "classic entrepreneurial story", developing a business out of nothing and achieving impressive profitable growth through calculated risk taking, excellent marketing and true passion. Presenting John Lyon with the Science and Technology award - a new category introduced to the programme this year in recognition of the increasing contribution of the sector to regional and British business - the judges commented on John's interesting background in both science and business and his sharp development of an idea into a valuable business. Jemella, whose GHD products are sold through hair salons and are endorsed by Hollywood stars such as Jennifer Aniston, had turnover of £46m last year and is launching 30 new hair care products this year, along with a new brand aimed at the mid-price mass salon market. Mr Lyon is chief executive and chief finance officer of Photopharmica Group, which he founded in 2002 aspiring to grow to be world leader in the discovery and development of photosensitisers - chemicals activated by light - to produce effective medicines for the dermatology, oncology and ophthalmology markets. The North region award recipients, who were selected from 42 finalists, will go through to the national final in October, from which the Overall UK Entrepreneur of the Year will go forward to the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo in spring 2006. > menu |
