Odgers Berndtson Annual Gala & CEOx1Day Award Ceremony 2019

Odgers Berndtson Singapore office celebrated the conclusion of CEOx1Day (CEO for a Day) during its glittering fifth annual gala on 31 May 2019. The global CEOx1Day programme aims to "connect leaders of today to leaders of tomorrow", with Singapore being the first country in Asia to run this programme and now well to its second year.

14 pairs of students from National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University and Singapore University of Technology and Design were rigorously assessed and selected out of 160 applicants to win a rare chance spending one full day with top CEOs in Singapore. The award ceremony celebrated both winning students and CEOs for their participation and meaningful leadership connection. This year, the programme saw participating CEOs from diverse industries: HP Inc., Janssen, Bosch, Health Promotion Board, PropertyGuru, Vodafone, Saxo Group, Twitter, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, Singapore Life, Mediacorp, MediaCom, Zuellig Pharma and General Electric.

Joined by more than 180 guests from various industries, largely regional heads and executives, the event was hosted by Andie Rees and Mark Braithwaite in an illuminating and enjoyable evening of good company, good food and fine wine at the Monti, Fullerton Pavilion.

The restaurant overlooks the grand Marina Bay Sands by the historical Singapore River; a nod to the bicentennial commemorative year of Sir Stamford Raffles landing in Singapore. To commemorate the close relationship and ties that have evolved and been forged over the years between the UK and Singapore since Singapore's independence, two very special guests were invited to the annual gala to speak and present the CEOx1Day token of appreciation to students and CEOs: Baroness Virginia Bottomley (Chair, Board Practice, Odgers Berndtson UK) and Rosie Hamer (Director, British High Commission Singapore at Department for International Trade).

The Singapore office also took the opportunity to introduce and run a quick donation drive for Child at St 11, a local pre-school centre teaching and supporting children from problem homes and poverty. The generous giving from guests and friends alike totaled to an overwhelming $3,885 in donation, where it would certainly make a difference to these children who could be the next CEOs in the future.

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