About Awards International
Awards International is dedicated to running successful awards programmes and is focused on doing this to the exclusion of all else. A number of operators run awards programmes as a secondary or complimentary activity. Awards International believes that by focusing on Award programmes it provides partners and clients with the best service and value.
The Awards International business model is about working with partners. Partners who the company identifies it can work to build a long term successful programme and on the basis of equal risk and reward.
Don Hales – Chairman
Don entered the awards business in 1996 when he launched the National Sales Awards and a few years later, the National Customer Service Awards. Both these programmes continue to thrive today, attracting thousands of entries from hundreds of companies. The annual award dinners attract sell out audiences of over 2,500. Don was Deputy Managing Director of Quest Media prior to its acquisition by United Business Media. Don continues to act as Founder and Chairman of Judges for both programmes.
Don has worked on many other award programmes in the UK and internationally. Amongst the programmes Don has developed are The British Computer Society IT Industry Awards; The European Call Centre Awards, The All Ireland Marketing & Sales Awards, All Ireland Customer Service Awards, National Business Awards, Regional Business Awards, British Council of Shopping Centres Purple Apple Awards and many others. He is also retained as Executive Consultant for the Polish National Sales Awards.
Don’s first career was in financial services. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Following the sale of his business to AXA Sun Life, he entered the media sector to run events alongside publishing titles and found a niche market in running and providing consultancy services for award programmes.
As a hands-on Chairman, Don will use his vast sales and awards experience to ensure Awards International Ltd delivers a superior service and unmatched added value.
Neil Skehel – Managing Director
Neil has been a judge for the National Customer Service Awards and the National Sales Awards since 2005.
Neil was Head of National Operations for McDonald’s UK until 2005. Over a career of 20 years with the world’s leading franchising organisation Neil worked in many different countries and with cross functional teams of senior managers, peers and suppliers learning about what is now widely recognised as an exceptional business and commercial model.
Neil became an independent consultant in 2005 and has worked for Not for Profit, B2B, Insurance, Banking and Retail companies on customer service performance management and improvement initiatives.
Neil has been working with Don planning Awards International for the last twelve months and Neil will lead development of the organisation to achieve outstanding operations, customer service, business processes and capabilities.
Kriss Cocomazzi – Sales & Marketing Director
Kriss Cocamazzi is a proven senior Sales & Marketing Director with extensive experience of creative & delivering growth strategies to sustain competitive advantages, increase market share and net profit.
Kriss has worked in a number of large corporations over the last 20 years – achieving significant results in senior roles in field and corporate sales and marketing.
Kriss joined Awards International in 2009, an Award winner for Sales Change Management in 2007 in the National Sales Awards, the year in which she began consultancy work and has since worked within Transport, Utilities and Healthcare among others, to improve sales capability.
A consummate networker Kriss has the highly developed sales and interpersonal skills necessary to develop long term partnerships with large and SME organisations who are striving to develop sponsorship opportunities and become recognised for best practice.
