The European Business Leaders Awards (EBLA) programme, now in its fifth year, recognises the most outstanding executive leaders in Europe today. The Awards honour those individuals who are making a difference through leadership and innovation in their industry sectors.

This year, the Awards programme is being conducted in partnership with the Financial Times who will provide analysis on each of the shortlisted nominees and Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times joins the prestigious judging panel.

What makes these Awards different is that nominations are made by CEO

peers from the top-ranked FT Europe 500 companies.

The nominations are then assessed by a panel of judges that includes past Award winners and other business leaders. The panel is chaired by Sir William Castell, Chairman of the Wellcome Trust and a non-Executive Director of BP and of GE.

Tribute will be paid to all the finalists and the nominations panel at an invitation only VIP gala dinner and Awards ceremony in London in March 2008, which will be broadcast on CNBC Europe.