More than 40 Midlands business leaders have been shortlisted for a prestigious Institute of Directors (IoD) award.
A total of 44 people from the East and West Midlands have made it to the final of the 2020 Midlands Director of the Year Awards which is being staged virtually on November 12.
It is the first time the IoD East and West Midlands regions have joined forces for the annual awards.
The shortlist, which is broken down into regions, includes seven finalists from Derbyshire and Nottingham, six finalists from Lincolnshire, 11 from Leicestershire, 12 from Birmingham, three from Coventry and Warwickshire, four from the Black Country and one from Hereford and Worcester.
Gary Headland, chairman of the IoD East Midlands, said: "The unforeseen impact of covid-19 has prompted many businesses to innovate and provided us with the opportunity to try new ways of doing things.
"As such, we are running this year's awards across the whole of the Midlands, offering even greater visibility to our finalists."
Brian Hall, his counterpart in the West Midlands, added: "Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we celebrate directors and their achievements, showcasing those at the forefront of leadership excellence.
"Congratulations to everyone who has made this shortlist which is a fantastic achievement in itself."
Award winners will be announced by this year's category sponsors, while Mr Headland and Mr Hall will each select and announce a winner for the Chair's Award for Excellence from their respective half of the Midlands.
Free tickets to attend the event are available on the IoD's website.
