Business Person of the Year Award

Many people show outstanding performances in the development of Danish business in China. These achievements often go relatively unnoticed over several years by the general community and are typically performed by very dedicated, but also very modest individuals.

In 2007, the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China therefore introduced the “Business Person of the Year” award to acknowledge outstanding contribution within our business community. In 2009, the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award was introduced as an additional category.

The Business Person of the Year Award Gala serves as a platform to honor the winners and finalists, fostering inspiration, and strengthening our business community. Every year a nomination process will lead to a selection of the two candidates for the two awards. The winners and the other finalists will be announced and celebrated at the award ceremony.

During the award ceremony, the recipients will be presented with the coveted “Vilhelm Award Statuette.” This statuette bears the name of Vilhelm Meyer, the renowned and enterprising Danish entrepreneur who made Shanghai his home and workplace from 1900 to 1935.

Much work has been put into the making of the award statuette. The white, Blanche de Chine, porcelain statuette is designed by the famous Danish designer Carsten Jørgensen who also designed the Bodum Coffee Maker. Jørgensen’s idea behind the statuette is related to Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale “The Nightingale”.

In the fairytale, the emperor falls in love with the nightingale whose delightful song gives him so much pleasure. The tale and the statuette reflects the Chinese/Danish relations in a beautiful and elegant symbiosis.

The Business Person of the Year Award Gala has had different themes every year. In 2021, we had an unforgettable night of fun with The New Roaring 20s, in 2022 we celebrated in the style of Studio 54, and in 2023, we celebrated in the theme of Nordicnoir Sårt (Black).