Recruitment specialists Monroe Consulting Group Thailand has been named best small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) at Thailand’s inaugural Entrepreneur Now Awards (ENA) 2015. The awards are aimed at promoting entrepreneurism, attracting investors to Thailand and Southeast Asia (Asean), and revitalising the Thai economy and the SME sector. Additionally, the award hopes to champion the entrepreneurial spirit, cultivate the entrepreneur culture and support an eco-system to sustain it.
The Entrepreneur Now Awards 2015 were organized by BNOW.org (Bangkok Now), a Bangkok networking community for SMEs, in conjunction with The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand, Bangkok Entrepreneurs, Bangkok University, The Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce, The Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce, UNESCO and Brand Now. The judges included Fred Mouawad of Synergia One, Paul Robere of Robere & Associates, Lay Cheng Tan of Unesco, Michael I. Waitze, Managing Partner, Asia at ventureLab Growth Partners, Juthasree Kuvinchkul, Director of GrabTaxi Thailand, and Conor Bracken of Andovar.
Monroe Consulting Group Thailand’s win in the SME category was based on the recruitment company’s uniqueness, vision and potential growth, value in Thailand and Asean, eco-sustainability, striking achievements, overcoming challenges and the recognition and traction of its brand.
The honour is the latest in a series of high-profile achievements for the recruitment company that operates in emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region, including Best Small Recruitment Business in the Asia-Pacific for a record third straight year and Best Overseas Operation at the Global Recruiter Asia Pacific Industry Awards 2015 in Singapore.
John Tolmie, founder and managing director of Monroe Consulting Group Thailand, said he was delighted with the back-to-back award, with Monroe Thailand winning the Consulting Category in the Expat Entrepreneur Awards Thailand 2014.
“This award is an extremely pleasant surprise for Monroe Thailand,” John said. “Not only have we been recognised as Thailand’s leading recruitment company, but also as Thailand’s best SME. It’s a huge honour for Monroe in Thailand and also across Southeast Asia, including in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.”
The winners at the Entrepreneur Now Awards were:
SME (30 to 100 employees): Monroe Consulting Group (John Stuart Tolmie, Managing Director)
Most Outstanding Male Entrepreneur: Eatigo (Michael Cluzel, Group CEO and Co-Founder)
Most Outstanding Female Entrepreneur: Solution Nine (Duangdhamon Kaewphongsri, Founder)
Eco Entrepreneur: Equator Pure Nature (Peter N. Wainman, Founder)
Creative Entrepreneur: Thinkatorium (Jonas Becker, Founder)
Social Enterprise Entrepreneur: Siam Organic Co., Ltd. (Peetachai Dejkraisak, CEO and Co-Founder)
Exceptional ASEAN/Foreign owned: Laiki (Pradeep Akkunoor, Director)
Exceptional Thai owned: Parking Duck (Chayanon Visutthithada, CEO and Co-founder)
Most Entrepreneurial Team: Banh Mi Bo (Richard Pham & Wanicha Watanawanichkorn, Founder)
Micro SME (less than 30): Delishop (Pascal Martin, Director)