Cranfield School of Management is delighted to announce the winners of the School of Management Alumni Awards 2023!
The School of Management Alumni Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the School's alumni and highlight the variety of ways they are making a transformative impact on their organisations, industries and communities, globally. Each year the winners serve as role models to other alumni, students, and potential students: from internationally respected leaders and entrepreneurs driving innovation, to those who go above and beyond to embody the Cranfield Community spirit and keep our alumni network connected.
The annual awards recognise and honour alumni in four categories: Distinguished Alumni Award, Entrepreneur Alumni Award, Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Graduates, and the Alumni Service Award.
Professor David Oglethorpe, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the School of Management said: “Many of our alumni have exceptional stories to tell about how their Cranfield experience has contributed to their achievements and transformed their lives. This year’s alumni award winners are no exception. They are all exceptional individuals who are inspiring role models to their fellow alumni, students, and potential students, as well as being fantastic ambassadors for the School. They have each made a real impact on businesses, individuals, or their wider community. My congratulations go to all our 2023 winners on their achievements, and I wish them every success in the future.”
Congratulations to all our 2023 winners!
The winner of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award is Chris Ashton (MBA 1996). The Distinguished Alumni Award is the School’s most prestigious award and recognises truly outstanding achievements of our alumni over sustained periods of time. It honours those individuals who have achieved significant success within their industry/sector, while upholding the highest standards in business practice.
Chris Ashton is an outstanding leader with global experience. He inspires people to succeed and grow to their full potential, motivated by knowing what they do makes a real difference. Chris is currently the CEO and Managing Director of Worley. His career is a real testament to what is achievable. He has talked about his career journey from starting out on a Sunderland council estate to leading a global company, and he is a passionate advocate for STEM learning.
Jerry Ejikeme (Exec MBA 2020) is the winner of the 2023 Entrepreneur Alumni Award. The Entrepreneur Alumni Award recognises those who have achieved outstanding entrepreneurial success while upholding the highest standards of business practice and it also acknowledges the importance placed on entrepreneurship, teaching and research at the School.
Jerry Ejikeme is a visionary entrepreneur and leader who has pioneered cross-border digital distribution. He is currently the CEO of Sochitel. Jerry founded Nomiworld Ltd in Nigeria and Sochitel UK Ltd in 2007 to focus exclusively on the emerging international remittances industry. The business grew exponentially forming partnerships with major African banks to deliver mobile airtime and data on a B2B2C basis. As a result of Jerry’s vision and leadership, Sochitel has become one of the biggest suppliers of digital products and services across Africa, while still keeping its open and family-like culture.
The 2023 Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Graduates is awarded to James Owen (MBA 2017). The Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Graduates recognises those who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from the School and who have the potential to reach the highest levels of business success in the future.
James Owen is a highly driven and inspiring leader with a ‘change the game’ attitude. He is currently Global Chief Financial Officer, Profiles Division of Kantar. James' work at revolutionising Kantar’s Profiles division profitability has led to him being nominated and winning Finance Monthly’s ‘CFO of the Year 2021’, James was also a nominee for GenCFO’s ‘Finance Leader of the Year 2022’ and nominated for the prestigious Fortune Magazine’s ‘Global 40 Under 40’. He is also a regular speaker and panellist at key finance leadership conferences.
Evbusogie Osojie (MSc Finance and Management 2005) wins the Alumni Service Award. The Alumni Service Award recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution in a volunteer capacity over an extended period of time and acknowledges the vital role that alumni have to play in the continued strength and success of the School.
Evbusogie Osojie is the International President for the Cranfield Nigeria Alumni Community. She has been instrumental in keeping the alumni community active by organising activities to foster bonding amongst members, build connections, and create a vibrant networking and social platform. She has also instituted initiatives to keep members informed and abreast of happenings in the economy and contributed to developing the local ecosystem by bringing investors and budding entrepreneurs together. Evbusogie is currently the Founder/Managing Partner of L’ecole Consulting Nigeria Limited.
