Murad Al-Katib of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. from Canada named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 - Seite 2

About Murad Al-Katib and AGT Food and Ingredients Inc.  

Murad Al-Katib believes in a world where safe, affordable and sustainable protein will be available to all. Through the growth of AGT Food and Ingredients, he is realizing and leading this vision with the explosive growth of the vegetable protein industry.

Murad seized this opportunity 15 years ago in Canada's rural prairies by creating a business that would become the strategic link for lentil producers, by creating a direct connection between the agricultural producers and the world. Today, Canada is the world's largest lentil producer with Murad at the helm of the largest company in the sector.

Murad serves as the President and CEO, a board member and an executive committee member of AGT Food and Ingredients. He has guided AGT from start-up to a position as the world's largest vertically integrated supply chain processor of lentils, chickpeas and peas with 46 manufacturing facilities. Its 2016 revenues were US$1.49b and it has more than 2,000 employees on five continents.

The company has expanded considerably through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. It has completed 17 acquisitions in seven years on five continents, many of them in emerging markets. This has contributed to AGT's ability to consolidate the global pulse seed and staple food sector and it has diversified its business units in other areas such as pasta, rice, varieties of grains, food ingredients, protein and fiber products.

The concept of "compassionate entrepreneurship" underpins Murad's world outlook and purpose-driven approach. He feels strongly about food security, famine food aid and emergency refugee food response which are his lifetime causes.

By accessing his global supply chain and manufacturing and distribution networks, he has delivered over four million family ration cartons to international agencies for Syrian refugees under food aid tenders. Murad was honored and recognized for this philanthropic work: in 2016 he was named Global Citizen Laureate by the United Nations Association in Canada, and most recently in March 2017, he was one of four honorees of the Oslo Business for Peace Award.

About the judging panel

The independent judging panel was chaired by Jim Nixon of Nixon Energy Investments (US). Joining him were:

• Rosario Bazán of DanPer (Peru)
• Judy Chan of Grace Vineyard (China – Hong Kong/Macau)
• Diane Foreman of Chelsea Group Ltd (New Zealand)
• Ilkka Paananen of Supercell (Finland)
• Rosemary Squire of Trafalgar Entertainment Group (UK)
• Manny Stul of Moose Enterprise Holdings & Controlled Entities (Australia)

Broadcast coverage, an interview with the winner and high-resolution photography is available to download for broadcast and online use at: http://broadcast.ey.com/stories/10225