Kee Safety CEO wins top prize in Midlands business awards
Chris Milburn, the CEO of Kee Safety, a global supplier of safety solutions and products based in the West Midlands, has been named Chief Executive of the Year in the Midlands by the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA).
Kee Saftey also won the Mid Market Management Team of the Year award, confirming the outstanding performance of the company over the last year under the leadership of Mr Milburn. The business has been backed by UK private equity house Dunedin since December 2013.
The company was one of six winners in the Midlands final of the BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP. Now in its seventh successful year, these are the only awards which recognise and celebrate the achievements and success of UK businesses which are backed by private equity and venture capital.
All of the winners are now automatically entered into the national finals which will be announced at a ceremony in London on 25 June.
The full list of winners for the Midlands BVCA Management Team Awards:
Category |
Winner |
Backed by |
| Large Buyout Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year | Cambridge Education Group | Bridgepoint |
| Mid Market Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year | Kee Safety | Dunedin |
| Venture Capital-backed Management Team of the Year | Convergence Pharmaceuticals | SV Life Sciences, Apposite Capital, New Leaf Venture Partners |
| International Impact Management Team of the Year | Cambridge Education Group | Bridgepoint |
| Exit Management Team of the Year | Poundland | Warburg Pincus |
| Community & Environmental Action | Independent Community Care Management | Livingbridge |
| Best for Innovation | DisplayLink | Balderton Capital, DFJ Esprit and others |
| CEO of the Year | Chris Milburn, Kee Safety | Dunedin |
Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Midlands judging panel and a Partner at Maven Capital Partners, said:
“This has been an exceptional year and the Midlands has once again produced the goods. The standard of entrants has been outstanding, and every one of these businesses is a shining example of what can be achieved with the right leadership, the right strategy and the right support and investment. Private equity and venture capital continues to show its importance to both the local and national economies, and good luck to all of the winners in the national finals.”
Alex Hyde, Transaction Advisory Services director for Grant Thornton in Birmingham, said:
"Chris Milburn and the Kee Safety team stood out as embodying all the characteristics of a well-run and successful private equity backed mid-market business. Clearly defined, embedded strategic goals and financial targets coupled with an incentivised management team, strong controls and risk management procedures plus an ongoing drive for operational improvements have all helped the business to go from strength to strength."
Notes to editor
- The BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP, are the only awards to celebrate the achievements of private equity and venture capital-backed management teams. There are eight regions in total, each with their own judging panel, and all winners were automatically forwarded to the national final, the results of which were revealed at a ceremony in London on 25 June 2015. Please click here for more information.
- The Midlands judging panel consists of: Andrew Ferguson (Chairman), Maven Capital Partners; Sam Archer, Downing; Matthew Caffrey, Livingbridge; Geoff Davies, Grant Thornton; Jane Houghton, BVCA; Owen Trotter, Key Capital Partners; Tim Whittard, Business Growth Fund.
- The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has over 500 member firms, representing the vast majority of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and their advisers.
- Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, forward-thinking advice. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients and help them to find solutions. More than 35,000 Grant Thornton people, across over 100 countries, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. The UK Grant Thornton member firm provides services to over 40,000 privately held businesses, public interest entities and individuals. It is led by more than 185 partners and employs more than 4,200 of the profession's brightest minds. Find out more at www.grant-thornton.co.uk.
