European CEO’s award selection panel has used a wide range
of criteria to inform its decision over the 2008 awards, lending the critical
eye of a collective 170 years of business journalism to the exhaustive
information gathered by the award body’s research team.

Organisations from across Europe – and from across the world – have been
recognised, all from diverse and varied industry sectors, including finance,
law, automotive fleet services and business travel and tourism. The one thing
that unites them all is that they have achieved the top levels of service in
their areas of expertise.

Some of the more important factors taken into consideration by the panel were
as follows:

• Innovation and originality
• Project management ability
• Keeping ahead of the competition
• Market leadership and geographic spread
• Proof of development and continued progression
• Positive media coverage
• High level of transparency and good governance

There were various sectors which European CEO regarded as essential to the
business world. An obvious one was tax. It seemed that in this field,
excellence was almost a three horse race with PricewaterhouseCoopers gaining
recognition in Luxembourg,
Cyprus, India
and Switzerland
and Ernst & Young and Deloitte not far behind.

It goes without saying that for every company, winning the award is a success
story. With such steep competition in every sector, it’s a real accolade being
recognised for your achievements. However, there are some companies for whom
the competition has been overwhelming. Take South Korean motorcar
company, Hyundai for instance. The company has made substantial efforts to
re-establish their target market, going from a signifier of the middle-aged to
now targeting the market which Vauxhall Corsas and VW Polos command. Their
sales figures and market presence stand as a tribute to a company which is both
flexible and focused.

Elsewhere, companies which were originally set up to target a specific sector
are being honoured for becoming the authority and hugely successful within
their niche. WH Law began as a one-woman-outfit and has now grown into 50 law
professionals focusing on internet law. Similarly, Norwegian firm Vogt &
Wiig have been recognised for their contribution to maritime law.

And the winners are:

Best Tax Team of the Year – Belgium
Deloitte

Best Tax Team of the Year – Luxembourg
PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A.R.L.

Best Tax Team of the Year – Russia
Ernst & Young Russia

Best Tax Team of the Year – Ukraine
Ernst & Young Ukraine

Best Tax Team of the Year – Cyprus
PricewaterhouseCoopers

Best International Tax Team of the Year – Italy
TLS – Associazione Professionale di Avvocati
e Commercialisti

Best Tax Planning Team of the Year – India
PricewaterhouseCoopers India

Best Tax Planning Team of the Year – Switzerland
PricewaterhouseCoopers Switzerland

Best Business Tax Advisory of the Year – Italy
Studio Tributario e Societario Deloitte network

Best Transfer Pricing Team of the Year – Italy
Studio Tributario e Societario Deloitte network

Best Dispute Resolution Team of the Year – Italy
Studio Legale Irti

Best Corporate and Commercial Team – Cyprus
Areti Charidemou & Associates

Best Corporate and Commercial Team – Bahamas
Graham Thompson & Co.

Best Foreign Exchange Broker of the Year
FxPro.com/EuroOrient Securities and Financial Services Ltd.

Best Capital Markets Team of the Year –
Luxembourg
Wildgen, Partners in Law

Best Banking and Finance Team of the Year – Switzerland
Schellenberg Wittmer

Best Transfer Pricing Team of the Year – India
BMR

Best Shipping and Maritime Law Firm of the Year – Norway
Vogt & Wiig

Best Gaming Law Team of the Year – Malta
W H Law Malta

Inward Investment Team of the Year – Europe
InvestBulgaria Agency

Regional Investment Team of the Year – Europe
Flanders Investment & Trade

Fleet Management Team of the Year – Europe
Hyundai Motor Europe GmbH Fleet & Remarketing

Tourist Board of the Year
South African Tourism

Convention Centre of the Year
Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)

Regional Tourism Bureau of the Year
Cape Town Routes Unlimited

World’s Best Business Hotel
lebua at State Tower

Best Banking & Finance Team of the Year – Cyprus
Chryssafinis & Polyviou

Public Certified Accountant of the Year – Southern
Europe
RSM Malta

Licensing Team of The Year 2008 – Southern
Europe
RSM Malta

Best Tax Team of the Year – Norway

Ernst & Young

Best Real Estate Team of the Year – Norway
Wikborg Rein

Best M&A Team of the Year 2008 – Cyprus
Chrysses Demetriades & Co.

Best Energy Trade Law Team of the Year – Germany
Kermel & Scholtka

Best Insolvency Administration Team of the Year – Germany
Metzeler Van Betteray

Best Corporate & M&A Team of the Year – Iceland
BBA Legal

Best Intellectual Property Law Team of the Year – Greece
Lykourezos Law Offices

Best Banking & Finance Team of the Year – Bulgaria
Kambourov & Partners

Best Tax Team of the Year – Netherlands
KPMG

Best Intellectual Property Law Team of the Year – South Africa
DM Kisch Inc.

Best Corporate & Commercial Law Team of the Year – Panama
Arias, Fabrega & Fabrega

Best Transfer Pricing Team of the Year – Finland
PricewaterhouseCoopers Finland

Best International Tax Team of the Year – Finland
Cartren & Snellman

Best Legal Team of the Year – Finland
Borenius & Kempinnen

Best Corporate & M&A Team of the Year – Turkey
Pekin & Bayar Law Firm

Best Corporate & Commercial Team of the Year – Switzerland
Wenger & Vieli

Best Corporate Team of the Year – Liechtenstein
Muller & Partner

Best Corporate & Commercial Team of the Year – Slovenia
Miro Senica & Odvertniki

Best Tax Team of the Year – Chile
Ernst & Young

Best Capital Markets Team of the Year –
Italy
Chiomenti

Best Banking & Finance Team of the Year – Italy
Bonelli Erede Pappalardo

Best Competition Team of the Year – Italy
Gianni Origini Grippo & Partners

Best Corporate Team of the Year – Ukraine
Sayenko Kharenko