A lifetime of achievement
A number of veteran businessmen were considered for this year's Lifetime Achievement Award.
But one distinguished achiever stood tall above all others, and the panel was unanimous in declaring him worthy of the title.
A celebrated linguist and accomplished businessman, this year's winner may also be familiar to many in the enterprise community in his recently-adopted ceremonial role as President of the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
Dr Jay Kettle-Williams has a CV which would be the envy of any businessman or academic the world over.
Having worked for the UK department of Trade and Industry to promote overseas investment and exports, he has earned qualifications in six foreign languages, from Russian to the native American language of Quechua.
He established Portsmouth University's Language Centre, and also runs a language consultancy in Southsea called Polyglot Solutions, which teaches – amongst other things – Portsmouth FC's newly arrived football players how to get to grips with fast-paced football-speak.
Although the good doctor was not there in person to receive the award, Maureen Frost, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce, picked up the trophy from Nick Gross, managing partner of sponsor Coffin Mew LLP.
She said: 'The thing that really stands out to me about Jay is his total enthusiasm. You never see him miserable, never depressed, he always sees the best side of everything.
'He's a real advocate and ambassador for the city, he's really proud to be from Portsmouth, and he promotes it and the chamber in absolutely everything he does.
'He's had so much success in everything he's done over the years.
'He's a language and culture ambassador for UKTI and he's really helped an awful lot of exporters.'
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
