media releases
FBN Next Generation Lombard Odier Award 2020 champions the next generation of entrepreneurs
The Family Business Network (FBN) and Lombard Odier have nominated three exceptionally promising young family business entrepreneurs as finalists in the 12th FBN NxG Lombard Odier Award.
The finalists had the opportunity to pitch their projects to hundreds of family business leaders at the FBN Global Family Gathering – “Together Appart, Redefining Success Across Generations”, held online 12-13 November, where the overall winner was revealed
The COVID-19 outbreak has presented intense challenges to any entrepreneurial journey and yet one thing is certain: it will accelerate the next wave of innovation. Throughout these challenging times, FBN and Lombard Odier believe it is essential to consistently foster and support young NxG entrepreneurs.
Family businesses are well-known for their resilience over time and throughout crisis, and the same should hold true for NxG entrepreneurs! The FBN NxG Lombard Odier Award was created in 2009 to celebrate and support outstanding intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial projects initiated by the next generation of family business owners.
The 2020 finalists were chosen by a jury of senior business leaders and entrepreneurs who reviewed candidates aged between 18 and 40 from 10 different countries. The finalists and their projects were selected based on the following criteria: Innovation, Viability, Sustainability, Communication.
The three finalists for the 2020 edition of the NxG Award are:
- WINNER: Max Parmentier, 5th Generation Bekaert, Belgium, founder of “Birdie”
- FINALIST: Preeyam Budhia, 3rd Generation Patton Group, India, founder of “Embracing Green”
- FINALIST: Rehan Amarasuriya, 5th Generation de Silva group, Singapore, founder of “Profile Print”
Frédéric Rochat, Managing Partner at Lombard Odier said: “We offer our sincere congratulations to Max Parmentier as the recipient of the FBN NxG Lombard Odier award, and to Preeyam Budhia and Rehan Amarasuriya for the fantastic achievement of reaching the final stage. Entrepreneurship and innovation sit at the heart of family businesses, and we are very proud to be a partner in the FBN Next Generation award.”
“At Lombard Odier, we are convinced that in a post-COVID world, there is no going back to business as usual. This is a conviction we share with the members of the Family Business Network. Today, more than ever, we must focus on sustainability as there is a profound economic transformation underway.”
“This award is a natural extension of these principles and has been created to support innovative and sustainable initiatives devised by the next generation of family entrepreneurs from all over the world.”
The Winner
Max Parmentier, 5th Generation Bekaert, Belgium
Founder of “Birdie”
Max Parmentier is a member of NextGen and of the 5th generation of Bekaert, the world market and technology leader in steel wire transformation and coatings.
Over the generations, Max’s family has transmitted the values of entrepreneurship, social stewardship and resilience. This has inspired Max throughout his career to undertake new systemic initiatives to drive social change.
Max is the co-founder and CEO of Birdie, an age tech startup looking after the elderly. Birdie uses digital products, IoT and machine learning to help deliver better, preventive care for our elders to live healthier and happier at home. Birdie ranks among the best startups in Europe and is B-Corp certified. It aims at radically improving the lives of millions of older adults and at shaping a new kind of corporation that takes responsibility for our communities and our environment.
Previously, Max was the founder and CEO of the world’s largest global health e-marketplace under the hosting of the Global Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Max has a background in social innovation in startups, public and private sector, including as manager at McKinsey in the sustainability and climate change practice.
Max holds a Master in Management and Engineering from UCL, Belgium, a Master in International Management from CEMS and Master in International Economic Policy from Columbia University in New York.
Max says: “I'm very inspired by the story of my ancestor who launched Bekaert. He was an entrepreneur in his soul. In my family, we have an abnormal number of entrepreneurs (starting with my brothers). We grew up with my grandfather telling us stories on how one person could impact an entire sector. On how freedom of thoughts and actions were powerful. On how we were master of our destiny and life was ready to be reaped. He gave us that comfort to dare and try. Since my childhood, these stories have inspired me to try many new things without fearing to fail, and with the vision and ambition that nothing is impossible.”
Nominations for the 2021 FBN Next Generation award are now open – for further information, please visit https://www.fbn-nxgaward.com/
Important information
This media release has been prepared by Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd, a bank and securities dealer authorised and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) (hereinafter "Lombard Odier"). It is not intended for distribution, publication, or use in any jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, or use would be unlawful, nor is it aimed at any person or entity to whom it would be unlawful to address such a document. This media release is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer or a recommendation to enter into a relationship with Lombard Odier, nor to subscribe to, purchase, sell or hold any security or financial instrument.
This document may not be reproduced (in whole or in part), transmitted, modified, or used for any public or commercial purpose without the prior written permission of Lombard Odier.
© Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd – All rights reserved
share.