Executive categories

Executives from companies and organizations in all industries, regions in the U.S. or Canada, and company sizes are eligible to enter any and all of the 21 executive categories.

Companies are allowed and encouraged to submit entries in multiple categories in Best in Biz Awards 2024.

Tip: Submissions in all Executive categories can frequently be re-used, often with minimal to no tweaks, to also enter the corresponding Department of the Year categories. For other cross-submission ideas, please see the tips listed in the individual categories.

01

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes chief executive officers (CEO) and company presidents.

Winners in this category will be selected in each of the three company-size subcategories:
a. Executive of the Year – Large Companies (1000 and more employees)
b. Executive of the Year – Medium Companies (100-999 employees)
c. Executive of the Year – Small Companies (1-99 employees)

Tip: This category submission can frequently be re-used – or parts of it re-purposed – to also enter various Company categories, in addition to the corresponding Department category.

02

ENTREPRENEUR / FOUNDER OF THE YEAR

This includes all entrepreneurs and company founders, who have created a new business since January 1, 2023.

Tip: This category submission can frequently be re-used – or parts of it re-purposed – to also enter the Start-up of the Year category, in addition to the corresponding Department category.

03

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives in all business development functions.

04

CREATIVE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives in all creative functions, including heads of in-house arts, design or graphics departments, as well as creative agency executives.

05

CRISIS MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

With the global spread of COVID-19, every organization’s crisis management has been put to the test. All executives tasked with preparing for, managing and responding to crises, including but not limited to the current global pandemic, are eligible to apply. This includes all executives involved in crisis management, including customer care, customer service, customer support, logistics, operations, technology, marketing, PR etc., as well as cross-departmental team heads.

06

CUSTOMER SERVICE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes all executives in customer care, customer service and customer support functions, including both VP- and director-level customer care professionals.

Tip: This category submission can be re-used in the Support Executive of the Year category.

07

FINANCE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives in all finance functions, including executives such as CFO, controller, etc.

08

HR EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives across all HR functions, including both VP and director-level human resources professionals.

09

LEGAL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes in-house executives such as chief legal officer, general counsel or associate counsel, as well as law firm executives such as partner or counsel.

10

MARKETING EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives across all marketing functions, both offline- and online-focused, including CMO, VP of Marketing, as well as marketing and advertising agency executives.

11

OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes all operations executives, including chief operating officers (COO), general managers, etc.

12

PR EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives across all PR functions, including PR, Corporate Communications, Communications, etc., as well as PR agency executives.

13

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT / DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

New category for 2023 awards
All executives responsible for preparing, developing and managing products are eligible to apply. This includes all executives involved at any stage of product management or development, including technology, visual arts, operations, etc. as appropriate.

14

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

All research and development executives are eligible. This includes scientists, researchers and executives at research labs and departments at for-profit companies, as well as non-profit and governmental organizations. Please be sure to mention research achievements, innovations, patents.

15

SALES EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives across all sales functions, including channel, direct, online and retail sales.

16

SUPPORT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes all executives in support functions, including both VP- and director-level customer care and tech support professionals.

Tip: This category submission can be re-used in the Customer Service Executive of the Year category.

17

TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This includes executives across all technology functions, including such executives as CTO, VP of Engineering or VP of IT.

18

CHAIRMAN OF THE YEAR

This includes all chairmen or chairwomen of all boards of publicly owned companies or non-profit organizations.

19

ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE YEAR

Executives from all industries are eligible. Over the years, we’ve seen so many incredible contributions to a variety of environmental causes mentioned in several Executive submissions and thus, at last, we wanted to provide a dedicated category for these exceptional executives to showcase their environmental impact. Demonstrated contributions to environmental causes, in terms of company direction, charity founding, environmental contributions and donations, employee matching policies, EPA standards-exceeding buildings and policies etc. required.

Tip: This category submission can frequently be re-used – or parts of it re-purposed – to also enter the Most Environmentally Responsible Company of the Year category.

20

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

This includes all executives, as innovation can occur in any industry or discipline and in any department of a company or organization. Demonstrated innovations in terms of patents, inventions, first-to-market developments, company culture and policies, etc. required.

Tip: This category submission can frequently be re-used – or parts of it re-purposed – to also enter the Most Innovative Company of the Year or Most Innovative Product, Service or Product Feature of the Year categories.

21

PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR

Executives from all industries are eligible. Over the years, we’ve seen so many incredible contributions to a variety of social causes mentioned in several Executive submissions and thus, at last, we wanted to provide a dedicated category for these exceptional executives to showcase their social impact. Demonstrated contributions to societal causes, in terms of company direction, charity founding, charitable contributions and donations, employee matching policies, etc. required.

Tip: This category submission can frequently be re-used – or parts of it re-purposed – to also enter the Most Socially Responsible Company of the Year category.

 

back to the full list of categories in the 14th annual Best in Biz Awards