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The Société Générale Award for Customer Focus went to Isuzu Truck (UK). Isuzu Truck (UK) is the UK distributor of Japan-based vehicle manufacturer and its mission statement is to make Isuzu the first truly customer-facing truck manufacturer in the UK. Isuzu’s model for success is wholly customer-based. It is underlined by an unique customer focus programme called CARE which permeates the whole business, regular customer focus groups, and a market share that has increased by at least 10 per cent year-on-year every year since 1996.
Bruno Bassac, Deputy Head of Corporate Coverage in Europe, Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking, said: “We are delighted to recognise companies who also put clients at the heart of their business. Société Générale applauds Isuzu Truck’s commitment to putting the client first and its pursuit of the most effective solutions to satisfy customers’ needs.”
“Customer Care has been at the heart of the Isuzu Truck business in the UK from Day 1, and something which has become a personal crusade for me. To win this award, ahead of such well known and respected companies is, indeed, an awesome achievement for my team here at Isuzu Truck,” said Nikki King OBE, Managing Director, Isuzu Truck (UK).
Prior to the event, Isuzu Truck UK had been chosen as one of the ten finalists for “The Société Générale Award for Customer Focus” and was a recipient of the coveted Ruban d’Honneur. The Ruban d’Honneur is presented to all finalists in recognition of their achievements in becoming a member of Europe’s business elite.The European Business Awards was set up in 2006 to recognise and reward excellence, best practice and innovation in companies across the European Union. Extensive research and high standards of judging quickly established the European Business Awards as the showcase of Europe’s skills, achievements and innovations in the field of business.
Isuzu’s success in winning this award put them alongside an unique and distinguished set of winners on the night that included Procter & Gamble, Intamac Systems Ltd, Econcern, Petrotechnics Limited and Steve Leach (Group CEO, Bigmouthmedia)
2008 year saw entries from 25 of the 27 member states. Entries flooded in from April 2007, and the exhaustive judging process required more than 453 working days of combined effort from the judging panels and finalists. There are seven award categories, with each category having up to ten ‘Ruban d’Honneur’ recipients. The Ruban d’Honneur recipients are then judged again and a winner declared in each category. Volunteer judges 1 are drawn from business, political and academic circles across Europe, and the lengthy process is known to be daunting for entrants.
Adrian Tripp, European Business Awards CEO, says: “Europe needs more of these types of businesses such as Isuzu Truck. As globalisation gathers pace, the threats and opportunities for Europe will continue to increase. There is no doubt that today’s winners have the energy, innovation, flair and skills to navigate the threats and prosper from the opportunities ahead.”