Some of the international furniture and interiors industry's top businesses and exceptional individuals were recognised at the International Furniture Leadership Awards 2020/21 (FLA International) and International Interior Design Awards 2020/21 (IDA International) joint award presentation ceremony, held virtually on 29th April.
In addition to the award winners, the international judging panel (including Furniture News' Paul Farley) and the programme's global partners, the ceremony was attended by the heads of top regional and national associations from around the world.
At the outset, the two programmes received over 60 international nominations from over two dozen countries – yet as the Covid-19 pandemic raged, almost half withdrew, with many quoting the disruption caused by the pandemic. At the end of the assessment exercise, the international judging panel arrived at the final number of 14 companies/organisations and four individuals qualifying for the awards.
These outstanding companies and individuals come from retail, wholesale, manufacturing, interior design, interior fit-out and trade associations, and represent 16 countries from across APAC, the Middle East, Europe and North America.
The company award winners were: AA Corporation, Vietnam; Akase Co, Japan; Deesawat Industries Co, Thailand; Federmobili, Italy; Gagu Guide, South Korea; High Point Market Authority, US; IQI Concept, Malaysia; JCS Design Project, Malaysia; Matthew Lim Associates, Malaysia; Picket & Rail Holdings, Singapore; Royaloak Incorporation, India; Samin Furniture, Iran; Seki Furniture Co, Japan; and PT Home Center Indonesia (INFORMA).
Individual awards went to: Ali Ansar Ghumman, CFO, Trendline Furnishers, Pakistan; Arie Wissmann, CEO, Wissmann Holdings, Israel; and Shermaine Ong, group executive director, Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), Singapore.
The Global CEO of the Year Award (the programme’s highest accolade) went to Meutia Kumala, MD of PT Home Center Indonesia (INFORMA).
Held annually to celebrate excellence, FLA International and IDA International honour stand-out organisations, as well as individuals that display remarkable leadership. They are organised by FurnitureAndFurnishing.com, one of Asia’s leading B2B furniture import/export media platforms, are endorsed by International Alliance of Furnishing Publications (IAFP), an association comprising 18 of the world's top furniture trade publications (including Furniture News), and are supported by CIFF Guangzhou.
