The Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 in Estonia is Indrek Sepp
06.11.2009
The winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 (EOY) competition is Indrek Sepp, owner and chairman of the board of Pristis AS, who will represent Estonia in Monte Carlo in the World Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 competition in May.
The patron of the EOY competition is the President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who noted in his video approach that despite difficult times the Estonian entrepreneurs and companies cope with the economic downturn. „Estonian entrepreneurs do not compete with each other in a closed environment of Estonia, they compete in Europe and more widely around the world. It depends namely on you, how the economy in Estonia will look tomorrow and after ten years.”
„It is an acknowledgement to the whole 16 year development of the business and the team with whom we work together daily,” said Indrek Sepp, chairman of the board of Pristis.
“Pristis grew out of a small company that installed car security systems, being today the international security enterprise with a significant market share in three Baltic countries. Skorpion security services, bought this year, will strengthen our position even more, we are ready to offer security related full services. Today we employ in three countries more than 600 people.”
According to Ernst & Young Baltic EOY program director Tarmo Toiger, theEOY event organised for the second time in Estonia was a success, although finding candidates was more complicated than in the previous year. “Estonian entrepreneurs are modest by their nature, although they are the ones who deserve full public acknowledgment. The main purpose of the EOY competition is to bring out our finest entrepreneurs in good and bad times and give them the opportunity to learn and expand their contacts internationally,” said Toiger. “We are trying to make the EOY competition the annual top event for the entrepreneurs of Estonia as it is in other countries over the world. The competition helps us to contribute above all to the development of entrepreneurship and export in Estonia and thus to a general growth of economics.”
The winner of the Estonian competition will attend the international World Entrepreneur of the Year finale in Monte Carlo with a companion. Also, the winner will obtain a lifetime membership of the World Entrepreneur of the Year Academy, which gives an opportunity to build relationships with the best entrepreneurs in the world.
The Entrepreneur of the Year competition was first announced by Ernst & Young in the USA in 1986. This year, the Entrepreneur of the Year celebrates its 23rd anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world. Every year awards are given to more than 900 entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
The finalists of the Entrepreneur of the Year competition, organised for the second year in Estonia, were Enn Meri (Meriinvest OÜ), Indrek Sepp (Pristis AS), Erko Karo (Plekitööde Keskus OÜ), Risto Rossar (IIZI Kindlustusmaakler AS) and Raigo Tammo (Estanc AS).
The EOY sponsors in 2009 were Toyota Baltic AS, EPL Ärileht and Elisa Eesti AS.
AS Ernst & Young Baltic is the leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, with year 2008 revenue over 100 million Estonian kroons. There are ca 100 employees working at Ernst & Young Estonia office. Worldwide, our 144,000 people in 140 different countries are the foundation of success. Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services.
Additional information:
Ranno Tingas, Ernst & Young Baltic AS partner
Tel: +372 6 114 610, e-mail: Ranno.Tingas@ee.ey.com
Tarmo Toiger, Ernst & Young Baltic AS EOY program director
Tel: +372 6 114 566, e-mail: Tarmo.Toiger@ee.ey.com
Indrek Sepp, Pristis AS chairman of the board
Tel: +372 6 841 111, e-mail: Indrek.Sepp@pristis.ee
