Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 Rental & Replacement Cars CEO of the Year 2025 (APAC): Alex Rodov Alex Rodov is both the CEO and managing director of Carbiz, Australia’s one-stop shop for accident management services. Established in 2016, the company has almost a decade of experience providing step-by-step support for customers – from the scene of the accident itself to the recovery claim and getting back on the road as quickly as possible. Alex and the team are passionate about disrupting vehicle replacement through the service they provide, and we caught up with Alex for more on how Carbiz challenges convention, as well as the journey that put him in the driver’s seat.
About the Global CEO Excellence Awards2025 CEO Monthly is thrilled to introduce the Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025, an annual celebration of leadership, vision, and innovation. This prestigious awards programme recognises the world’s most accomplished CEOs who are driving their organisations forward and making a profound impact on their industries. The awards aim to honour those who embody the qualities of exceptional leadership, adaptability, and forwardthinking strategies. A great CEO is the cornerstone of any successful organisation. They steer their companies through both challenges and opportunities, ensuring growth and stability in a competitive market. CEOs play a critical role not only within their businesses but also in shaping the industries and communities they influence. Strong leadership, strategic decision-making, and an unwavering commitment to innovation define today’s exemplary leaders. The Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 recognises and celebrates these qualities, spotlighting individuals who set benchmarks for others to follow. As we move into 2025, CEOs are focusing on key trends and emerging opportunities to stay ahead. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
Contents 4. Carbiz: Rental & Replacement Cars CEO of the Year 2025 (APAC): Alex Rodov 8. Grassfeld Inc: Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025: Mo Radjab 12. StarApple AI: Most Innovative Artificial Intelligence CEO 2025 (Caribbean): Adrian Dunkley 14. AG MELCO LLC: Elevator Supply & Installation CEO of the Year 2025: Jorge Manuel Ramos & Business Leadership & Dedication Excellence Award 2025 16. Fintech HI.RE: Best FinTech Executive Search CEO 2025: Cliff Van Tonder 17. B&A: Best IT Services CEO 2025 (USA): Jonathan Evans 18. AMT: Global CXO Advisor of the Year 2025: Reiner Petzold & Business Leadership & Dedication Excellence Award 2025 19. Senja Aman Group: Leading Property Development CEO 2025 (Malaysia): Paul Tan
Rental & Replacement Cars CEO of the Year 2025 (APAC): Alex Rodov
CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 5 Jul23542 Alex Rodov is both the CEO and managing director of Carbiz, Australia’s leading provider of replacement cars. Established in 2016, the company has almost a decade of experience providing support for those whose cars are involved in not-at-fault accidents or experiencing warranty issues. Alex and the team are passionate about disrupting car replacement through the service they provide, and we caught up with Alex for more on how Carbiz challenges convention, as well as the journey that put him in the driver’s seat. Australia, like countries all over the world, sees thousands of car accidents take place every day. As anyone who has ever been involved in a car accident can attest, the situation can be stressful and overwhelming, even for the person not at fault. Carbiz helps put an end to these worries, getting its customers back on the road as quickly and safely as possible. It does this by delivering a comparable replacement car straight to the customer, ensuring their mobility and lifestyle remain intact while their damaged car is repaired. Many people are unaware that if they are involved in an accident that wasn’t their fault, then they may be legally entitled to a replacement car paid for by the at-fault driver’s insurer. As touched on above, Carbiz sees its purpose as being to disrupt, redefining an industry that has long been plagued by a lack of transparency. Unfortunately, it is all too common for customers to go uninformed about what they are entitled to following an accident, which is particularly frustrating when they were not the cause. This stems from many organisations in this space prioritising their own interests, creating confusion and frustration for customers when what they really need is support and transparency, which Carbiz deliver. Every element of the customer experience has been meticulously mapped out by Carbiz, and applying for a replacement car could not be more straightforward. Customers simply fill out an online application form or call the in-house team to get started. All that is then needed is a bit of information about the accident and the details of the at-fault driver. Once this is all processed, a replacement car is delivered straight to the customer’s preferred location by members of the team, often within an hour of the request first being submitted. “We are redefining what Australian drivers can expect after an accident and aim to be their first point of contact.” The remarkable work Carbiz is doing when it comes to advocating for the rights of not-at-fault drivers has more than paid off over the past few years, with the High Court of Australia making a landmark ruling in 2021 in the wake of the Arsalan v Rixon and Nguyen v Cassim cases. With this ruling, the High Court clarified that not-at-fault drivers are entitled to a replacement car of a similar standard to their own, including luxury models where applicable. This set a new industry precedent, recognising that an accident shouldn’t unfairly strip someone of the amenities, safety features or overall enjoyment they previously experienced while driving. More information about the impact of this ruling can be found by clicking here. With a little help from this decision, and the dedication of the team behind Carbiz, the company has grown from its humble origins in a converted garage with just a handful of cars to a national organisation with more than a dozen locations spread across Australia. More than 2,000 late-model cars make up the Carbiz fleet, from renowned manufacturers such as BMW, Toyota and Tesla. Across this collection, cars of all shapes and sizes are available, ensuring customers have the right car for their unique needs. “We believe the industry needs to evolve into one that prioritises the customer experience and builds trust through honesty, consistency and accountability. That’s the shift we’re driving at Carbiz every day.” Alex Rodov has played a pivotal role in Carbiz securing their reputation as Australia’s go-to provider of replacement cars, with his expertise having served as the foundation of the company since day one. Despite what people often think, Alex has not always been involved in insurance or even the automotive industry, instead getting his start in real estate in 1998. It was here that Alex developed what would become a deep appreciation for customer service, which drew him to the role of senior personal banker with St George Bank. Six years later, Alex was bit by the entrepreneurial bug, leading him to launch and grow several successful ventures across a whole host of industries. These include in his previous areas of expertise such as financial services and real estate, and well as new frontiers like waste management, catering and legal services. Carbiz started out as one such venture, with Alex stepping into the roles of CEO and managing director. Alex explained: “I drew on everything I had learned to lead a business [Carbiz] that puts people first during one of the most stressful times in their lives.” As well as being wired into the needs of his customers, Alex’s strengths shine equally as bright when it comes to leading the team at Carbiz. Leveraging the same people-first ethos he affords customers, Alex’s hands-on approach to leadership ensures he is visible, approachable and aligned with the team every day. This is seen through steps as simple as Alex wearing the same Carbiz shirt as everyone else, which may seem trivial, but demonstrates that this is a team working together as equals. To this end, Alex also makes sure that every member of the team, regardless of their role at the company, understands how their work contributes to Carbiz’s larger goals. Alex does this in several ways, from hosting town hall meetings to sharing and celebrating both personal and professional milestones in Carbiz’s company-wide group chat. A culture such as this, which both empowers and allows people to feel seen, is essential for a rapidly growing and relatively new organisation like Carbiz to succeed. The company is constantly having to compete with the giants of the industry, and its mission to disrupt the status quo whilst also expanding its reach makes things twice as hard. Nevertheless, Carbiz’s passion has ensured its rapid growth over the past nine years, with it now boasting locations from Perth to New South Wales and everywhere in between. Such swift expansion has, however, brought challenges of its own, especially when it comes to the company keeping its processes, fleet and infrastructure all consistent with the pace of the business’ expansion. This is a challenge that Alex more than welcomes, as it has opened the door for more talent. Diving deeper into what this strategy looks like for the rest of 2025 and beyond, Alex tells us that Carbiz aspires to continue expanding their reach so they can fulfil their mission of being
there for as many Australian drivers as possible, and being their first point of contact after an accident. Concerning his own career, Alex is firm in this belief that his own success is directly tied to the success of the people around them, and therefore sees a significant opportunity in developing the next generation of leaders at Carbiz. Creating an environment where people feel empowered to take initiative, think differently and grow into leadership roles is a key priority for him. “At the same time, I plan to keep taking calculated risks, embracing innovation and staying ahead of the curve. Being an early adopter and challenging the status quo is what brought me here, and I have no intention of slowing down. I want to build a legacy that has a lasting impact not just on our customers, but on the industry as a whole.” Regarding his legacy, Alex’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of professionals in the automotive industry extends far beyond Carbiz. Through his active participation in numerous industry-specific events, he consistently shares valuable insights on mobility trends, customer service and effective leadership. Alex takes immense pride in empowering ambitious individuals to become the best versions of themselves, helping them add meaningful value to the industry. This commitment is reflected in the work he has been doing at Carbiz for several years, with results that speak volumes. Whether it’s the company’s 14+ locations across Australia, its fleet of over 3,000 vehicles or the thousands of five-star reviews across platforms like Product Review, Google and Trustpilot, Carbiz’s pursuit of excellence and industry-leading standards is unmistakable. Having transformed Carbiz into Australia’s foremost rental and replacement car provider, Alex has firmly established himself as a visionary leader within the country’s automotive sector. His passion for innovation, customer-first solutions and dedication to positive change continue to redefine how people experience car replacement services. In recognition of his outstanding leadership and impact, we are proud to honour Alex Rodov with the well-deserved title of Rental & Replacement Cars CEO of the Year 2025 (APAC). Contact Details Contact: Alex Rodov Company: Carbiz Web Address: https://carbiz.com.au/
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Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025: Mo Radjab
CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 9 Jun25107 Taking control of your personal finances can be a daunting task, but one grounded in complete necessity. By creating and tracking your income, spendings, and goals, your path to financial freedom will become clearer than ever before. This is a philosophy championed by Grassfeld, a leading Dutch scale-up providing innovative personal finance management technology across Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. Today, we celebrate Mo Radjab – the visionary CEO of Grassfeld steering the company to excellence. We heard more from Mo below, following his well-deserved recognition in the Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025. An innovator in fintech, Mo Radjab has been making significant waves across the industry. He is often described by his peers as a natural strategist and a force to be reckoned with, having played an instrumental role in driving the success of a number of emerging companies. From his expansive network to his unrivalled market expertise to his infectious energy, Mo has certainly established himself as a key player in the fintech sphere and a trusted partner for those seeking financial freedom. Mo’s journey to becoming CEO of Grassfeld was driven by a sole core belief: financial clarity creates freedom. Before founding Grassfeld, he held multiple senior management roles across large international corporate banks – gaining firsthand experience in macroeconomics, leading product teams, managing risks, and lending capital. These positions shaped his perspective on economics, technology, human behaviour, and the structural gaps within the financial system. “I began my career at Robeco,” he recalled, “a well-known private bank in the Netherlands, working with private investors and dealing with large sums of investment capital. Over the years, I noticed a recurring theme: people were not struggling because they lacked ambition; they were struggling because they lacked an accessible financial structure. The tools available were either too technical, too generic, or disconnected from people’s daily reality.” With each bank, Mo built an invaluable foundation in operational discipline, resilience, and product-market fit, all of which he draws upon daily in his current role as the CEO of Grassfeld. This makes the role truly fulfilling for Mo, allowing him to combine every element of his professional background, including product innovation, financial empowerment, scalable technology, and a relentless focus on user outcomes. “Being at the helm of a fast growing fintech company means I must constantly shift between visionary strategy and operational execution,” he shared. “My past experiences taught me how to balance the big picture with the small details, the macro and the micro, which I believe is one of the most underrated skills in modern leadership. I didn’t simply step into the CEO role; I built the foundation for it through years of trial, insight, and belief in a better way to help people manage and worship their money.” “I didn’t simply step into the CEO role; I built the foundation for it through years of trial, insight, and belief in a better way to help people manage and worship their money.” That is precisely what Grassfeld stands for: redefining how people interact with their money. This fast-scaling American and European fintech firm is dedicated to helping individuals achieve long-term financial wellbeing through innovative, automated, and hyper-personalised money management tools. To this end, the firm’s flagship product is a personal finance platform expertly designed to simplify, optimise, and empower users to manage their income, expenses, savings, debt, and investment – all in one intuitive interface. At its core, Grassfeld’s mission is clear: to give every individual the clarity and control they need to make confident financial decisions. It is with this mission that the firm aims to achieve its ambitious vision of becoming the world’s most trusted and human-centred financial platform, empowering millions of people to build a financially free future, on their own terms. As Mo aptly stated, “Our combination of automation, design simplicity, and deep personalisation provides us our unique edge.” Grassfeld serves a diverse range of users, comprising young professionals, families, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads. Though different, many of its users share similar ambitions – financially conscious individuals seeking clarity, control, and confidence in their financial life, but without the complexity of traditional finance apps. This is where Grassfeld differentiates itself from its peers: prioritising the core philosophy of blending simplicity with intelligence. Unlike traditional budgeting tools, Grassfeld offers a proactive financial assistant experience to its users, providing each with intelligent insights, future simulations, and actionable recommendations that innovatively adapt to their personal situation and goals. The platform has received widespread attention, with one of its most highly praised features being the Financial Life Simulator, a forward-looking engine that helps users ask, “What if I…?” and instantly see the future impact of key life choices. “Financial wellbeing should not be reserved for the few with access to advisors; it should be available to everyone, every day, right from their phone.” Every element of Grassfeld’s functions is centred around the belief that financial wellbeing should be simple, accessible, and intelligently adaptable to the user’s real life. To this end, it operates as more than just a personal finance app, but as an ecosystem for financial clarity and long-term empowerment. It operates with a subscription-based revenue model, offering scalable pricing that fits both the everyday user and the more advanced financial planner. Currently active across Europe with a fast-growing user base, the firm’s strategic focus is now on expansion into North America and building key integrations with savings, credit, and investment partners. The firm’s ongoing strategy is centred around four pillars: hyper personalisation at scale, driven by advanced AI and behavioural analytics to deliver tailored financial recommendations; a crossplatform ecosystem, realised through the launch of Grassfeld Navigator to ensure seamless integration across mobile and desktop experiences; sustainable growth through data intelligence, leveraging anonymised financial data to improve predictive modelling and user experience while maintaining strict GDPR compliance; and community-driven innovation, with regular feedback loops – from surveys to beta programmes – ensuring that users don’t just use Grassfeld, but shape it. While now well-defined, each of these pillars was forged through trial, error, and unrelenting learning. “Building Grassfeld has been one of the most rewarding and demanding journeys of my life,” Mo reflected. “As with any company that aims to disrupt a legacy industry like personal finance, we’ve faced both systemic challenges and breakthrough opportunities, each shaping me as a leader and sharpening our company’s mission.” The personal finance app market is remarkably competitive, with numerous players vying for limited user attention. The biggest challenge for Grassfeld was not launching, however, but standing out.
The firm overcame this hurdle by focusing on user transformation, rather than its features. This enabled the team to build Grassfeld to stand as more than a tool – as a trusted financial companion. This shift from utility to empowerment soon became Grassfeld’s shining strategic edge. From there, the firm was faced with the challenge of navigating complex compliance and data regulation. Operating across Europe meant confronting evolving regulations, such as GDPR, PSD2, and national privacy standards. This confronted Grassfeld to build smarter from the very beginning, embedding privacy and security by design – as well as consent and transparency – into each and every layer of the product. Remaining competitive following its establishment required fundraising in a shifting investment climate, and the fintech landscape has fluctuated significantly since 2022. As a result, investor expectations quickly shifted from hypergrowth to sustainable economics. As CEO of Grassfeld, Mo had to take a step back and realign the firm’s fundraising strategy, articulating a clear and credible path to profitability. In turn, this led to stronger investor relationships and healthier financial planning. That’s not to say that the journey hasn’t provided equal prosperity, however, as Mo shared with us the opportunities that have appeared along the way for the team. Grassfeld was an early adopter of AI-driven financial simulations, positioning itself at the very forefront of next-generation personal finance platforms – particularly through its unique “What if I…?” scenario engine. For Grassfeld, artificial intelligence is not merely a feature, but a core enabler of personalised financial guidance at scale. Building upon its early success, Grassfeld’s expansion into North America unlocked new growth potential. Conversely, it also forced the team to quickly adapt to different financial behaviours, regulatory frameworks, and product expectations. This has certainly been a strategic challenge for Grassfeld, but ultimately one that has strengthened its unrivalled global ambition. Now, the global demand for user-friendly, non-intimidating financial apps has never been higher. This macro trend has validated Grassfeld’s product philosophy and has continued to create expansion opportunities in undeserved markets for the firm, particularly among younger, mobile-first users. In reflection, Mo noted: “These experiences have made me a more adaptive, resilient, and userobsessed CEO. I’ve learned to lead with clarity in chaos, precision in strategy, and empathy in decision-making. Every challenge sharpened our focus. Every opportunity accelerated our vision.” “Every challenge sharpened our focus. Every opportunity accelerated our vision.” Innovation is the key to success in this industry, as the fintech sector undergoes a transformative phase marked by both accelerated innovation and heightened industry pressures. Keeping a close eye on the market, Grassfeld has observed a number of significant developments promising to reshape the sector’s development, including the ongoing revolution of generative AI; escalating cybersecurity threats calling for more robust data protection; developments to regulation and open finance; competitive pressure stemming from market maturation; and the need for global expansion and consolidation. In response to these developments, Grassfeld has adopted a number of strategies to rise above. This includes doubling down on advanced cybersecurity, automated privacy safeguards, and transparent AI; embracing open finance to integrate seamlessly with partners, all the while safeguarding user data; following a platform-enabled model that embeds budgeting, savings, credit, and planning tools into one unified interface; recognising that AI-first precision is no longer optional, but essential for delivering secure, personalised insights; and by remaining ready and equipped to scale – not just geographically, but also in offering richer financial services. “I see our industry at a pivotal moment,” Mo told us, “where breakthrough tech meets surging demand, but also stringent oversight. The leaders of tomorrow will be those who combine cutting-edge AI, ironclad security, regulatory excellence, and genuine customer value. That’s precisely where Grassfeld is positioned, and why we’re accelerating our roadmap right now.” Looking ahead, the future of Grassfeld is not just about growth; it’s about global impact. As we enter the second half of 2025 the firm’s vision remains bold: to become the world’s most trusted and human-centred financial platform, helping 100 million people build a future of financial freedom. Following Grassfeld’s successful launch across Europe, the remainder of 2025 will be focused on scaling Grassfeld into North America, into markets that present both opportunity and complexity. Through 2026 and beyond, Grassfeld aims to expand into Asia-Pacific markets, build localised AI models to serve the culturally distinct financial needs of its customers, and launch Grassfeld for SMEs – bringing the same clarity to freelancers and microentrepreneurs. The next era of Grassfeld is rooted in scale, intelligence, and impact. On a mission to do more than just building features, Grassfeld is shaping the future of financial selfdetermination, one user at a time. As for Mo, the future is bright – with a number of plans geared towards scaling both Grassfeld and his leadership capabilities, becoming a voice for ethical fintech, and promoting personal growth through mentorship and collaboration. In the long-term, he envisions the launch of a fund or foundation focused on financial wellbeing, youth entrepreneurship, and tech-for-good, aligned with the same values that fuel Grassfeld. One thing is for sure: whether Mo remains at the helm of Grassfeld or launch new ventures in the future, his core mission will remain the same – to empower people with clarity, confidence, and the tools to shape their own future. “For me, success is not a destination; it’s a responsibility,” he shared with us. “Winning Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025 is an incredible honour, but I see it as a milestone, not a finish line. My personal mission is to keep evolving as a leader, expanding not only the impact of Grassfeld but also my ability to empower others, inside and outside the organisation. “None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary people who’ve walked this path with me. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who have not only believed in the vision but also in me, especially during the moments that tested our resolve. “To Remko Brenters, our brilliant CTO, Lackó Darázsdi, our vigilant CISO, and Ronald van IJsselmuide, our steadfast Finance Director, thank you for your unwavering commitment, sharp insight, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Your partnership has been foundational to everything we’ve built. To the entire Grassfeld team: Your loyalty, patience, and resilience inspire me every day. You are the heartbeat of this company, and I’m endlessly proud to stand alongside you as we shape the future of personal finance. “But above all, I want to thank the one person who grounds me and lifts me all at once, my wife, Demi Radjab-Blok. Through every high and low, she has stood by my side with grace, strength, and unwavering belief. She is not only my greatest supporter, but also my truest motivation. Her presence reminds me, every day, of why I strive for more, not just in business, but in life. This award is a reflection of all of you. Thank you for being part of this journey and being in my life.” Contact: Mo Radjab Company: Grassfeld Inc. Web Address: www.grassfeld.com
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CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 12 Most Innovative Artificial Intelligence CEO 2025 (Caribbean): Adrian Dunkley elivering more than technology, Adrian’s flagship, StarApple AI, the 1st Jamaican A.I company promises true transformation as it supports NPOs and NGOs in their missions of With a bold mission to democratize AI and expand opportunity, this Caribbean company brings together technology, education, economic growth, and social impact. For example, StarApple AI’s initiative, The Genius Project, focuses on empowering high-schoolers in underserved communities through hands-on STEAM education mentorships with a focus on A.I. CEO Adrian Dunkley shared: “Our mission is to democratize access to AI by empowering communities, organizations, and youth with tools and education that drive real-world impact. AI should not be a privilege, but a power shared, fueling growth, learning, and a future where everyone rises” “At our core, we are not a tech company, we are a global problem solver using AI to uplift lives.” This philosophy is deeply rooted in the career of Adrian Dunkley, whose path to leadership has been shaped by decades of hands-on innovation and service. Reflecting on his journey, he shared: “My journey into technology began long before I entered the professional world, it started with a deep fascination with science fiction, Foundation, Star Wars and Star Trek were my first fascinations. As a child, I was captivated by stories of artificial intelligence and futuristic innovation. That Jun25090 Step into the world of StarApple AI, where cutting-edge intelligence meets community-driven impact. Under the leadership of Adrian Dunkley, visionary, philanthropist, and regional trailblazer, this Caribbean AI powerhouse is redefining access, empowerment, and economic transformation, earning Adrian the title of Most Innovative Artificial Intelligence CEO 2025 in our Global CEO Excellence Awards. D early curiosity evolved into a passion for understanding how technology could be used to make life better for real people.” He continued: “Before founding StarApple AI in 2019, I spent over a decade developing AI solutions for corporations and startups across industries like safety, finance, travel, retail, and more. My career has stretched across data science, risk management, and strategy—each chapter sharpening my ability to solve complex problems, lead through change, and, most importantly, build systems that deliver real impact.” But Adrian’s impact goes far beyond corporate leadership. He contributes a minimum of 20 hours each month to regional initiatives. “People often ask why, as a CEO of multiple companies, I still study, build A.I models, and spend time in the field. The answer is simple, leadership means staying connected to the work and the people it’s meant to serve. I do it so the next generation sees what’s possible, and because real innovation doesn’t come from distance. It comes from presence, practice, and putting in the time where it counts.” Adrian’s societal contributions span climate resilience, financial literacy, crime safety, and education reform. He serves on several social impact organizations including the board of Crime Stop Jamaica, supports STEM initiatives for at-risk students, and is a cofounder of Wandersafe, a global A.I safety platform protecting diverse communities in cities around the world. His work spans innovation, justice, and survival. Alongside his professional journey, Adrian has completed multiple degrees in Mathematics, Physics, Enterprise Risk and Financial Engineering. He is currently completing his PhD in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Sunderland, as well as an Advanced Degree in Climate Physics at the University of the West Indies. At StarApple AI, Adrian has built a unique culture from the ground up. With over 100 years of combined experience in artificial intelligence, the team he assembled is a rare blend of PhD scientists, technologists, artists, poets, musicians, and skilled tradespeople. This blend was no accident. It is the result of a deliberate vision to create a space where diverse minds work together to solve realworld problems with creativity and precision. Adrian established a culture where everyone has a voice, where every perspective is respected, and where collaboration is fueled by both curiosity and expertise. The environment he created values both excellence and empathy, allowing the team to operate with depth, agility, and purpose. As Adrian puts it, “For all my years in AI, the part that has meant the most is human connection. What matters is not just what we build, but how it helps people grow and connect.” That philosophy is at the heart of initiatives like The Genius Project, which has already generated dozens of new jobs across sectors. Each program and product developed at StarApple reflects this deeper focus on people. From strategy to implementation, Adrian ensures the work is always rooted in impact, inclusion, and transformation. “We ensure our solutions are humancentered. When we build with people in mind, we do more than solve the problems we can see, we build systems that can solve the problems of tomorrow” Established on the belief that AI should serve people instead of replacing them, StarApple AI’s work spans a large assortment of sectors such as financial, entertainment and youth development to enterprise automation and public sector innovation, to create the opportunity for transformation no matter what a client is trying to achieve. Positively impacting people’s success rates, the team at StarApple AI’s core pillars act as a buttress for growth. From human-centred AI solutions to local innovation with global standards, sustainable growth partnerships to smart techniques to stay on track, objectives and key results to agile methodology, and impact evaluation to a continuous learning culture, the company partners with governments, schools, NPOs, and privatesector enterprises to create a butterfly effect that will stand the test of time. Uplifting, transforming, and instilling confidence for clients, StarApple AI uses its experience, across its
CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 13 compassionate and seasoned team – to create lasting growth. Adrian enthused: “My strategy for all my A.I companies is rooted in purpose-driven growth, where building a future includes everyone. That vision shapes every innovation, every project, every partnership, and every tool we build” Adrian Dunkley leads from the front and from the ground. His work reaches boardrooms, classrooms, and communities, using AI to solve real problems across climate, crime, education, and safety. He shows up, builds systems that matter, and makes sure they reach the people who need them most. This is how the Caribbean leads in AI, through purpose, inclusion, and consistent action. Adrian’s recognition as Most Innovative Artificial Intelligence CEO 2025 (Caribbean) reflects his impact across sectors and his commitment to people. “Leadership means listening, lifting, and ensuring every voice shapes the future.” – Adrian Dunkley Contact: Adrian Dunkley Company: StarApple AI Website: https://starapple.ai/
CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 14 Elevator Supply & Installation CEO of the Year 2025: Jorge Manuel Ramos & Business Leadership & Dedication Excellence Award 2025 itsubishi Elevators is a frontrunner in the manufacturing, installation, maintenance, repairs, and modernisation of elevators and escalators, supplying and maintaining these products across a variety of projects. It serves an expansive client base spanning numerous sectors, including residential buildings and houses; hospitality, such as hotels; commercial, via offices, warehouses, and industrial buildings; hospitals; and infrastructure, such as railways, airports, and metros. Across these varying fields, Mitsubishi Elevators’ goal is the same – establishing itself as a global leader in service quality, in all industries. This mission is overseen by CEO and Board Member Jorge Mauel Ramos, an executive leader with experience in managing international operations, leading large teams, and steering complex operations. Jorge started his career in the elevator industry rather young, as a Project Design Engineer at Siemens in Portugal. Over the years, he has navigated several positions in several companies, transitioning from technician to take on managerial positions across Latin America, the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and CIS countries. In 2022, Jorge took on the challenge of becoming CEO of AG MELCO – the biggest operation of Mitsubishi Elevators outside of Japan. This was an amazing opportunity for Jorge, allowing him to work alongside a team brimming with potential. Here, he works with a mixed A global market leader, Mitsubishi Elevators is the Middle East’s number one company in the elevators and escalators industry – by volume and quality of service. The company is helmed by Jorge Manuel Ramos, a visionary CEO and Board Member boasting a proven track record in driving business growth, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. We caught up with Jorge below to learn more, in the wake of his recent achievement in the Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025. M team of seasoned experts and young motivated colleagues, all striving to create a better future. He told us: “I strongly believe that your career is like a marathon, where you have to do the right things in the present so that your future will be brilliant. This is always my advice to the young talents I have the pleasure to work with every day.” Jorge considers himself to be an inclusive leader, one who takes a pragmatic approach to his business. He strives to simplify the process by dividing complex operations into multiple parts that can be solved one by one. This approach underscores Jorge’s entire leadership ethos: working together to achieve a common goal. He doesn’t believe in giving orders from the top, but in working closely with his team to ensure that they feel a part of the solution, empowered to support one another, learn from each other, and lead the company toward success. “Contrary to what a lot of leaders think, I strongly believe that if you want to build a brilliant team with the selfconfidence to win consistently, then failure is an option,” he added. “If you do not fail you will never improve, and I apply this to my team every day. The only way to improve ourselves is taking risks to improve the business, because if we do not take action then we will never know how we can do better – just stagnate.” This philosophy proved essential to Jorge as he embarked on his journey as CEO of Mitsubishi Elevators in the Middle East. In taking on this role, he was provided with great opportunity: the trust placed in the skills of Jorge and his team allowed them to develop the business with a hands-on approach. At first, there was some hesitation about transforming how Jorge’s team approached the maintenance business. But after the team demonstrated their ability to deliver top-tier maintenance services for any elevator brand, the company’s Japanese headquarters saw more than 15% year-on-year portfolio growth – over half of which came from maintaining non-Mitsubishi brands. This development was a great source of pride for Jorge – not only did the team gain support from headquarters to continue this business transformation, but the Middle East operations now stand as the global training centre for the maintenance of non-Mitsubishi elevator brands. This achievement was made possible entirely by the dedication of the Middle East branch’s management team, as well as its technicians and technical staff. This business approach has continued to yield benefits, thanks to the freedom it now provides the team to find innovative solutions, strengthen customer relationships, and adapt to evolving needs. Today, AG MELCO stands as a market leader, growing at a remarkable rate of more than 15% year-over-year in revenue. Jorge is sure to take advantage of the region’s economic landscape, wherein the quantity of new projects is growing day by day – with the market’s decision-makers moving in complete alignment with the company’s vision of quality, safety, and products fit for the future. The team continually stays ahead of market developments thanks to its open-minded attitude towards education – learning from customers, colleagues, and competitors to remain on top of the game. At present, the elevator and escalator industry is enjoying the growth of urbanisation as the region’s population continues to move to big cities. To cater to the rising need for accommodation and amenities, cities must embrace vertical growth – a development that will cause the demand for elevators and escalators to soar. Alongside this advancement, Jorge understands that AG MELCO must pay close attention to the impacts that emerging automatization and digitalisation initiatives will have on the industry, such as artificial intelligence and new technologies. These developments promise to be a gamechanger for the industry, particularly within the field of maintenance. Some of the emerging technologies promise to transform maintenance visits, wherein a portion of visits will be performed off-site, leading to more efficiency for elevator companies due to the mitigation of physical visits. This, however, also poses the risk of depersonalising services, AG MELCO LLC
CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 15 as technician expertise will be transferred to self-learning machines, significantly decreasing customer engagement and human contact. To successfully adopt advancing technologies whilst maintaining strong customer relationships, businesses must be proactive, innovative, and always client focused. “We already have these tools available,” Jorge informed us, “using them to improve customer communication and transparency in the maintenance reports to all our customers. We strongly believe that AI will not be a killer for the labour force, but a supporting tool to help us be more efficient when doing maintenance – giving us the ability to anticipate and identify any possible failures within the elevators. We are excited about the new technologies, but we will continue to train our teams in elevator maintenance with the highest quality and safety standards to ensure that our elevators are always safe and reliable.” This is precisely the company’s plans moving forward, doing what it does best: providing services at the highest standards of quality and safety to its customers. For AG MELCO, being recognised as the best elevator company in the industry is simply not enough – the company strives to be known for providing the very best services across every industry. Jorge believes that the only way to survive and grow in the current climate is by remaining at the forefront of innovation, quality, and customer excellence – and AG MELCO has the ingredients to do so. 2025 is proving that the team is on the right track, with sales for the first two quarters increased by almost 80% in comparison to the same period of 2024. “This is only possible when you have the best team and the best product,” Jorge said with pride, “and for this, we thank all our customers for depositing their trust in us, because it is for them that we improve every day – to better serve them and be a part of their success. There is no better feeling than when you see a team of almost 3,000 people working with the same objective: to be the best in providing the best services to our customers. This award goes to all my team for their passion and dedication to our customers, every day. I’d like to give a big thanks to all of them!” As for Jorge’s plans for the future, he believes that it is time to retribute what was given to him as he embarked on his professional journey; it is time to pass on his experience to the future leaders of Mitsubishi in the Middle East, and he is incredibly proud to be working alongside a team of motivated and dedicated colleagues – those for whom it is easy to handover the knowledge, motivation, and passion that was once bestowed upon him by his mentors. One of Jorge’s primary priorities is now to prepare his team for the with the expectation that they eventually will go on to do the same for their own teams, planting seeds for a future defined by excellence and collaboration – the enduring legacy of AG MELCO. Contact: Jorge Manuel Ramos Company: AG MELCO LLC Web Address: https://mea.mitsubishielectric. com/en/about/local/ locations/emea_ middleeastafrica008/
CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 16 didn’t start Fintech HI.RE to make a quick buck or chase a vanity valuation. I started it because I believed the recruitment industry — especially in fintech — was losing its soul. Too much noise. Too much automation. Too many shortcuts. Not enough humanity. From day one, I wanted to build a business that would last — something that could make a real difference to the people we work with. That meant slowing down where others rushed. Saying no when it mattered. And making decisions based on values, not just margins. One moment still stands out: an early client wanted fast resumes — a flood of CVs within 24 hours. But we could see it wasn’t about speed. It was about understanding what Best FinTech Executive Search CEO 2025: Cliff Van Tonder Cliff van Tonder is the founder and CEO of Fintech HI.RE, a global executive search and offshore staffing firm specialising in financial technology. He is passionate about building value-led, people-first recruitment partnerships that last, and we are proud to hear more directly from Cliff below. leadership really looked like in their world. We politely declined the transactional route and instead focused on helping them define the right leadership profile. It took longer — but that hire is still there, one year later, now leading a key digital transformation. That’s what I mean by lasting impact. We treat every candidate like a future leader, not a number in a database. We treat every client like a partner in progress — not a revenue line. And when we say we’re building global teams in India and South Africa, we mean building strong teams with sustainability and equality in mind. We mean undiscovered excellence. People who can change the game — if someone just opens the door. Sure, this philosophy means we don’t win every resourcing contract, and I’m ok with that. If it costs us short-term growth, but keeps our integrity intact, that’s a price I’ll pay every time. We live by six values — passion, ownership, respect, integrity, excellence, and balance. We don’t just write them on the website. We talk about them in hard decisions. We reflect on them when something doesn’t go our way. They are, quite literally, how we lead. Receiving this award again is deeply humbling. But it’s also a sign that sticking to our principles is worth it — even when it’s not the easy path. Fintech HI.RE may still be young, but we’re in this for the long haul. We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re here to be the most trusted. The most human. And hopefully, the most lasting. I Contact: Cliff van Tonder Company: Fintech HI.RE Website: https://www.fintechhire. com.au/ Building Something That Lasts
CEO MONTHLY / Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025 17 Best IT Services CEO 2025 (USA): Jonathan Evans Established in 1988, B&A has built a 30+ year legacy of delivering exceptional IT modernization services. From its origins as a small business, the company has evolved into a powerhouse in application transformation, cloud migration, human capital management, cybersecurity, data science, and geospatial services. Through strategic acquisitions and visionary leadership, B&A continues to redefine missioncritical enterprise solutions. We shine a spotlight on B&A as its CEO, Jonathan Evans, earns dual honors in our Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025. “Your Future. Our Mission.” With a mission to empower its clients through innovation and strategic alignment, B&A is a trusted partner to both public and private sector organizations. The company delivers tailored, tech-forward solutions that drive efficiency and measurable impact for clients across a broad federal landscape. B&A’s operational excellence is reflected in its adherence to industry-leading standards, including CMMI Level 3, ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 20000-1, ISO/ IEC 27001, ITIL®, and Agile best practices. These frameworks underpin B&A’s commitment to continuous improvement and service quality. Rooted in its core values of dedication, commitment, partnership, trust, and recognition, B&A has cultivated strong, lasting partner and client relationships that deliver mutual value. “At B&A, we remain focused on transforming client operations through innovation, driving measurable results, and accelerating mission impact,” said Mr. Evans. “Our forwardthinking approach not only fuels customer success but also helps shape the future of digital transformation.” “Critical Objectives. Innovative Solutions.” Mr. Evans brings over two decades of government contracting and IT services experience to his role. Prior to joining B&A, he led ERP modernization initiatives at IBM Global Business Services and scaled a small ERP firm into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. He joined B&A in 2011 and was quickly handed the rains in 2015 as President at just 35 years old—one of the youngest executives in the DC-area GovCon space—and was later elevated to President and CEO in 2018. Under his leadership, B&A has embraced agile operations, cloud-based tools, and streamlined delivery models. A B&A spokesperson noted: “Mr. Evans has built a scalable, customer-centric service model rooted in reliability, operational efficiency, and long-term growth.” Known for his empowering leadership style, Mr. Evans has nurtured a culture of collaboration, resilience, and innovation across the company. “He is deeply committed to guiding B&A with purpose and vision,” the spokesperson continued. “His approach ensures we remain agile, mission-focused, and ready to meet the evolving needs of our clients.” Thanks to this vision, B&A has transitioned from a small business to a majority prime contractor, achieving consistent 10% year-over-year growth increasing its enterprise value significantly from 2023 to 2024 by 50%. In the first half of 2025, he has already completed an additional acquisition that has added new clients and now has over 500+ resources nationwide. Importantly, Mr. Evans’ impact extends beyond financial metrics. In 2024 alone, B&A received 20 awards recognizing its workplace culture, employee wellness, and leadership in mental health— accomplishments underscored by a low 7% turnover rate and high employee satisfaction. As CEO, Mr. Evans continues to secure strategic contracts and position B&A for longterm success, all while uplifting the industry through his commitment to his people, clients and partners alike. His leadership has helped B&A earn a reputation as a mission-ready, innovative partner in the federal IT ecosystem. Mr. Evans is wellpositioned to drive significant revenue growth while enhancing IT solutions for a growing portfolio of clients in the years ahead. Mr. Evans’ accolades over the last decade reflect his lasting influence on the industry. In addition to winning the 2025 Chief Executive Officer of the Year award from WashingtonExec he now adds two more prestigious honors: Best IT Services CEO 2025 (USA) and the Award for Excellence in DEI Leadership in our Global CEO Excellence Awards. With a clear strategic vision, proven track record, and people-first leadership philosophy, Jonathan Evans continues to shape the future of B&A—and the broader IT services industry. Contact Details Contact: Jonathan Evans Company: B&A Website: https://www.bna-inc.com/ AIM-Jun25191
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