Simon Woodroffe, founder of YO! Sushi and star of the BBC TV series Dragon's Den will be in Birmingham next month as guest speaker at the second Young Director of the Year awards, staged by the Institute of Directors.
Sponsored by Lloyds TSB Corporate, the competition will cumulate in a gala presentation dinner on Thursday, November 10, held at the NEC's Inspire Suite.
The finalists will hear how Simon Woodroffe built the YO! brand, which now encompasses Sushi bars, YO! Below, YO! to Go and Yotel.
Mohammed Hasan, chairman of the IoD's Young Directors' Forum, said: "We are delighted to have secured the inspirational services of Simon Woodroofe as the perfect guest speaker at the second running of the Young Director of the Year awards.
"His approach to business is something to which we in the Midlands can readily relate."
Mr Woodroffe said: "Far from being dragged into the 21st Century, the IoD is leading a new generation of directors of businesses for whom the bottom line is a desire to create and build companies they are proud of."
The inaugural event was won by 39-year-old Andrew Selley, managing director of the logistics division of the 3663 First for Foodservice.
The Young Director of the Year award is open to directors under the agr of 43.
Entries are invited in small, medium and large categories, from the private, public and voluntary sectors.
