DIGICEL founder and chairman Denis O’Brien on Tuesday night won the coveted Jamaica Observer Business Leader Foreign Investor Awards at a glamorous ceremony held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

O’Brien won the award ahead of five other foreign investors who have pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the Jamaican economy.

“I am most definitely humbled and extremely grateful to accept this award on behalf of all my colleagues at Digicel,” O’Brien said after accepting the award in front of a packed Pegasus ballroom, seating the captains of industry and senior politicians.

O’Brien, an Irish national and Forbes billionaire, used the opportunity to express his gratitude to Jamaica for embracing Digicel, which he said is truly a Jamaican company.

“…Proudly, we are a Jamaican company,” said O’Brien. “We are not an Irish company that has come to Jamaica. Before Jamaica, there was no Digicel.”

He added: “All of this would not have been possible without the welcome and open-mindedness to change of the Jamaican consumer and the way they came out in their numbers to buy our service and to support us…Thank you to everybody here in Jamaica,” added the Digicel boss.

Digicel broke the telecommunications monopoly in Jamaica just under 10 years ago when the company paid US$47 million for a cell licence, following an auction. Digicel, which is now the leading cell provider in Jamaica, has 11 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific.

The other five nominees, representing the best of foreign investment in Jamaica, were Michael Lee Chin, AIC; Brendan Paddick, Flow; Carlos Del Rio, Albertis; Luis and Carmen Riu, RIU; and Arthur Lok Jak. They were selected by a 14-member Awards Selection Committee.

Meanwhile, the Business Observer Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Karl Hendrickson and Sameer Younis.

Hendrickson is the man behind the creation of Jamaica’s largest bakery empire — the National Continental Group. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1952 when, at his urging, his parents invested in an automated bakery for sliced bread.

“(I was) so fortunate to be a part of the expectant and thoughtful ’50s as we exuberantly approached Independence,” reminisced Hendrickson on accepting his award. “Then entering Independence and having the opportunity of living the heady days of the ’60s, with the excitement and optimism when everything was possible, and the mentality was ‘can do’, and we did,” said Hendrickson.

Younis founded Fabrics de Younis garment stores in 1970, beginning with a single branch at the former Spanish Court Plaza in New Kingston. From there he created a network of stores including Samm’s, which employed dozens of Jamaicans and later became a household name.

“I am indeed pleased to have been recognised in this way,” said Younis, who used the platform to urge Jamaicans to push his campaign for better family life as the way forward.

“I strongly believe that the most urgent needs of our society could be effectively improved in the long term if we put focus on our family life,” he said. “This, I believe, is the foundation of any country, for education begins at home, discipline, work ethic and respect are much needed to turn this country and economy around.”

Observer Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart heaped praise on the winner and the nominees of the Business Leader Award, and the Lifetime Achievement awardees. Stewart, who is also owner of Sandals Resorts, lauded entrepreneurism and the dedication of businesspersons in Jamaica.

“Tonight is a big night, you only have to look around,” he said at the ceremony.

“Some of the people inside this room, I know their history. Nothing in life comes easy, nothing in business comes easy,” said Stewart.

Master of Ceremonies was radio personality, Michael Anthony Cuff and Observer CEO Ed Khoury welcomed the hundreds in attendance.