Philip McIvor 2008
The chairman of Farmhouse Biscuits Philip McIvor was the 2nd recipient of the Personality of the Year award.
McIvor was recognised for his continued expansion of the Lancashire-based company, which he has run since 1963.
He was credited for his tremendous passion for the family-run business, despite being more than 70.
McIvor’s management team was also praised for carrying him and the company through a very serious injury, producing a very acceptable increase in the previous year’s turnover.
He saw off stiff competition from Adnams chairman Jonathan Adnams; former Northern Foods chief executive Stefan Barden; former Finsbury Food Group chief executive Dave Brooks; former Mars Snackfood md (now Mars UK president) Fiona Dawson; director (now md) of Vale of Mowbray John Gatenby and former UK md of Kellogg Greg Peterson.