ABDELHAMID Guedroudj, who has built the Petroleum Experts business into a global player in the oil and gas technology industry, has been named Scotland's Entrepreneur of the Year.
Mr Guedroudj achieved the top ranking in the latest round of the prestigious annual awards programme organised by the Entrepreneurial Exchange.
Staged this year in association with professional services firm Deloitte and media partner The Herald, they are Scotland's longest-standing annual awards for growth-oriented entrepreneurs.
Mr Guedroudj was recognised for his achievement in building Petroleum Experts from a start up into a company that has an international client base for its systems. These can allow firms to produce digital maps covering the processes ranging from the production of oil to refining. Founded by Mr Guedroudj in 1990, the Edinburgh-based company won a Queen's Award for Enterprise this year.
Wayne Godfrey, who heads the Browns Food Group, and Billy Walker, founder of The BenRiach Distillery Company, were shortlisted for the award.
Nigel Chadwick, founding director of the Stream Communications business, won the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Mr Chadwick has master-minded a successful campaign by the Glasgow-based company to establish a significant presence in the fast-growing machine to machine communications sector after being quick to spot the technology's potential.
Steven Gray, a founder of the ROVOP oil services firm, and Tommy Cook, owner of the Calnex Solutions network testing business, were shortlisted.
John Anderson, chief executive of the Entrepreneurial Exchange, said: "The finalists in both the entrepreneur of the year and emerging entrepreneur of the year awards are great role models of what can be achieved in Scotland despite the last few years of downturn ."
Mike McGregor, partner with Deloitte, said: "The quality of the candidates this year was outstanding and I was incredibly impressed by the ingenuity, the commitment and the determination of each individual."
Roy McGregor, chairman of Global Energy Group and Ann Budge, founder of Newell & Budge, were inducted into the Entrepreneurial Exchange Hall of Fame which recognises long-term success. The awards were presented at a dinner at the Glasgow Hilton, sponsored by Clydesdale Bank.
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