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2019 AmCham-DHL Success & Innovation Awards

Peter Beck takes out Supreme Award at the 2019 AmCham - DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards for companies doing business with the USA

Auckland, 22nd August 2019 — The 20th annual AmCham DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards were held at the Pullman Auckland Hotel last night, with Rocket Lab’s founder Peter Beck winning the Supreme Award for doing business with the United States.

AmCham was delighted to welcome the Hon Damien O’Connor as keynote speaker and presenter of the three key exporter awards as well as the newly arrived U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Kevin Covert presenting the Importer of the Year award.

Mark Foy, Country Manager for DHL Express New Zealand, said: “Peter Beck is an outstanding leading innovator in the space industry, who has grown his company over the last decade to a $2 billion entity today. Peter’s focus on continuous improvement and wanting to improve life on earth is a testament to his achievements. Peter has established strong relationships with the US market, a key trade lane and DHL congratulates him on his success.”

This year’s finalists came from across a variety of businesses covering gourmet pet food, eco-friendly beauty, butter, heavy equipment, aircraft engine reconditioning, technology, metals recycling, building products, tourism, education, meat, and organic feminine products.                  

The Supreme Award is chosen from the winners of each of the categories presented on the night. The complete list of winners is as follows:

Derek Syme , Chief Country Officer of Citibank NA NZ was presented with the Trevor Eagle memorial award as AmCham Supporter of the Year.

This year’s award finalists were some of the strongest AmCham has seen and so the judges awarded Highly Commended certificates to :

The AmCham DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards celebrate success and innovation in the export, import and investment sectors between New Zealand and its third-largest trading partner, the USA.  Winners of the importer, exporter, tourism and bilateral connections awards categories receive an Economy Plus® Round Trip Ticket to the USA from United Airlines. 

In addition to AmCham, DHL-Express and United Airlines, the Awards are also supported by ANZ Bank, Auckland Airport, Ironside McDonald Intellectual Property, The Pullman Auckland Hotel, media partner The Business, wine sponsor Constellation Brands and event manager Lime & Soda.

Finalists announced for the 2019 AmCham-DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards for companies doing business with the USA

The American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2019 AmCham-DHL Express Success and Innovation Awards, held in conjunction with United Airlines, the 20th year of these awards celebrating success and innovation for companies doing business with the USA.

Mike Hearn, Executive Director for AmCham, says 2019 has seen another very strong group of entries, covering a diverse range of products and services. The quality of entries made it even more difficult for judges to select this year’s finalists.

“Trade, investment and tourism links with the USA continue to grow and this year’s entrants have shown considerable success.” says Mr Hearn.

Commenting on the awards, Mark Foy, Country Manager, DHL Express New Zealand, said

“DHL Express are proud sponsors of AmCham New Zealand’s annual awards, celebrating Kiwi business success stories between New Zealand and the United States. As an international express logistics provider, we are committed to helping Kiwi businesses navigate international trade, and the USA is a major trading partner for New Zealand businesses.

Our annual ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer, which analyses exporting trends and confidence in New Zealand, again highlighted USA as number two in our top 10 exporting destinations (behind Australia). It is great to see New Zealand’s links with the USA continue to grow, a testament to the innovation, Kiwi ingenuity and optimism kiwi businesses have in this global marketplace. The high calibre of this year’s finalists demonstrates the ongoing success of Kiwi businesses tapping into and reaping the benefits of the USA export market and DHL congratulates all of the finalists for 2019”

The finalists are:

Importer of the Year from the USA

Investor of the Year to or from the USA

Exporter of the Year to the USA under $1 million

Exporter of the Year to the USA $1 million to $10 million

Exporter of the Year to the USA over $10 million

Bilateral Connections with the USA

Contribution to Tourism with the USA

Bilateral Entrepreneur/Innovator of the Year with the USA

One of the above will be chosen as the Supreme winner. 

One other award will be presented on the night:  The AmCham Supporter of the Year

The awards will be presented at a black tie gala dinner at the Pullman Hotel Auckland on 22nd August with the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters representing the government to present the exporter awards and US Ambassador Scott Brown presenting the Importer of the Year award. For details and tickets see Awards Dinner Tickets.

In addition to AmCham, DHL Express and United Airlines, the awards are supported by ANZ Bank, Auckland Airport, Ironside Irwin, and media sponsor The Business.

Previous winners of the Supreme Award have included Peace Software; Airways Corporation; HumanWare; Tenon; Orion Health; Zeacom; SMI Group; Fonterra; Pratt & Whitney Air New Zealand Services t/a Christchurch Engine Centre; Buckley Systems; Greenshell New Zealand; Vista Entertainment; Fisher & Paykel Healthcare;  Zespri International; and Tourism Holdings.

Entries open for 2019 AmCham – DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards for companies doing business with the USA

The American Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce the launch of the 2019 AmCham – DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards, held in conjunction with United Airlines. 2019 is the twentieth year these awards have been held and they celebrate business achievement between New Zealand and the United States.

 "The annual Success & Innovation Awards provide companies with an opportunity to showcase their imagination, innovation. entrepreneurship, as well as honour and celebrate their achievements," said Mike Hearn, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand.

Commenting on the awards, Mark Foy, Country Manager, DHL Express New Zealand, said “It is great to see kiwi businesses remaining confident and optimistic in this rapidly changing global marketplace. According to the 2018 Export DHL Export Barometer, Australia continues to dominate Kiwi exports, with the USA holding a strong consistent trading position at number two. The research indicated more than 50% of Kiwi exporters have seen international orders increase over the last 12 months, and 60% of them remain optimistic that international orders will increase in the next 12 months. These results are reflected in our business activity at DHL Express, as we see more and more New Zealand exporters investing in innovation and new product development to reach international borders.” 

With the growing tourism and air freight volumes with the USA, AmCham is delighted to welcome Auckland Airport as a silver sponsor to this years awards.  Scott Tasker, GM Aeronautical Commercial commented that "The USA is a significant passenger and cargo market for Auckland Airport, which continues to experience strong growth off the back of improving air connectivity between the two countries." 

Awards categories are: (CLICK ON THE CATEGORY BELOW TO DOWNLOAD AWARD APPLICATION FORMS)      
 A Supreme Award winner is selected from winners of each of these awards.  AmCham also presents an award to the Member/Supporter of the Year. 

 The winners of the importer, exporter, bilateral connections and tourism awards receive a return Economy Plus airfare to anywhere in the USA from United Airlines.

Companies interested in entering the 2019 awards can find further information at www.amcham.co.nz or by contacting Mike Hearn – email mike@amcham.co.nz   or phone 09 309 9140.  Entries close at 5.00 pm on 31 May.

Finalists will be announced on 4 July and the winners announced at a black tie awards gala dinner at the Pullman Hotel Auckland on 22 August.  

 Previous winners of the Supreme Award have included ZESPRI International, Peace Software, Airways Corporation, HumanWare, Tenon, Zeacom, Specialist Marine Interiors, Fonterra and Christchurch Engine Centre, Buckley Systems, Vista Entertainment, Greenshell New Zealand, Orion Systems International, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Douglas Pharmaceuticals and Tourism Holdings.

 In addition to AmCham, DHL Express and United Airlines, the awards are supported by: ANZ Bank, Auckland Airport, Ironside McDonald Intellectual Property and our media partner, the Business Herald.

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