MessageLabs Group CEO Wins “Technology Entrepreneur of the Year’ at 2005 UK Technology Innovation & Growth Awards
London, 16 March 2005 – Ben White, CEO of MessageLabs Group, one of the UK’s leading privately held managed technology services companies, was last night recognised as “Technology Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the UK Technology Innovation & Growth Awards.
Now in their seventh year, the UK Technology Innovation & Growth Awards celebrate the companies and individuals that have demonstrated the innovation and entrepreneurial flair that is vital to the health and growth of the UK technology industry. The 2005 Awards ceremony, held at the London Hilton Metropole, honoured the people and teams whose belief, ingenuity and leadership have driven the industry forwards over the past year.
The “Entrepreneur of the Year’ award category, which recognises an individual who has founded a successful high growth technology firm, was presented to Ben White for his achievement in building MessageLabs Group into one of the UK’s fastest growing technology success stories with over 12,000 customers and 600 employees worldwide. He co-founded the business just 10 years ago with brother Jos.
MessageLabs Group comprises two highly successful and dynamic technology companies: MessageLabs and Star. MessageLabs is the global leader in email security and management services for businesses* and Star is a leading provider of managed technology services to mid-sized businesses and public sector organisations in the UK.
As CEO of MessageLabs and the overall Group, Ben has strived for constant and sustained growth avoiding the pitfalls which have claimed so many casualties from the IT sector. Still only in his mid-30s, he has been at the helm as the Group has grown – through both organic growth and acquisition – to become one of the UK’s leading privately held technology services companies.
As well as winning this prestigious award, Ben White was selected as a finalist in the Technology CEO of the Year (private firm) category.
Commenting on his award win, Ben White, CEO of MessageLabs Group, said:
“I’m honoured to have won “Entrepreneur of the Year’. While it gives me a great sense of personal accomplishment, the MessageLabs success is testament to the enthusiasm and technology leadership of our staff.
“What started as a business-only Internet Service Provider (ISP) in 1995 has grown into an international group of companies recognised for their innovation, service excellence and expertise.
“Innovation is at the core of our business and continues apace. We are setting the standards for anti-virus and anti-spam protection, investing significant time, effort and resources in our core infrastructure, and delivering more value and new services on a quarterly basis.”
Moreover, MessageLabs’ marketing agency, Mason Zimbler, won an award at the event for their work with MessageLabs, winning Marketing Firm of the Year for Growth Technology Firms. hbl media, a leading business-to-business PR consultancy, was shortlisted for PR Firm of the Year. hbl has previously been recognised for its work with MessageLabs, winning the ‘Technology Campaign of the Year’ at the 2004 PR Week awards.
Marc Mason, Managing Director of Mason Zimbler, said:
“We pride ourselves on creating high impact marketing campaigns that push the boundaries but also deliver. Were delighted that we can share our success with MessageLabs, a company we’ve worked with for many years and whose approach to the market mirrors our own.”