Celebrating exceptional expats, employers and newly arrived headquarters in the Netherlands
June 6, Nyenrode Business University:
At an event last night at Nyenrode Business University, Emmy Coffey McCarthy, eBuddy, and Kuwait Petroleum were announced as the winners of Expat of the Year, Expat Employer of the Year, and Newly Arrived HQ of the Year respectively at the Expat Awards 2012.
The event was hosted by Paul Brown of WorldwideBrokers and included speeches by Bas Pulles and Serv Wiemers of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). The Awards garnered over 2,500 votes from the public, on which the shortlists were based, and these informed the judges’ final decision in recognizing the eventual winners.
“The international community in the Netherlands is home to a number of exceptionally dedicated individuals and businesses who work hard to create a better living and working environment for the people around them,” said Antoine van Veldhuizen, Managing Partner of Expatica. “The Expat Awards is our opportunity to recognise these exceptional people and organisations, and I’d like to congratulate all our nominees as well as our winners on their efforts.”
Expat of the Year
Even in a city, it takes a tribe to feel connected. Emma Coffey McCarthy has been a beacon for international parents across Amsterdam through her not-for-profit organisation, Stichting Amsterdam Mamas. Originally a closed Facebook group for six friends who wanted to share information and support, the group has grown to become one of the liveliest parenting forums in the country. Among other things, the jury was highly impressed by the group’s fast growth and team of dedicated volunteers, and the enthusiastic written support it received from voters.
“As of today, Amsterdam Mamas has over 1,400 members of all nationalities – including Dutch – who have come together to form a community,” said Emma Coffey McCarthy. “It’s been a fantastic experience to see how many other expats there are out there across the country, irrespective of where they come from. Having always been an expat I’m very grateful to be part of this community, and now I’m looking forward to raising the next generation of expats.”
You can find out more about the group at the www.amsterdam-mamas.nl website.
The runner up in the category was football player, coach, president, and organiser Phil Loughton, who was recognised for his work in helping working internationals develop a new life outside of work in the Netherlands.
Expat Employer of the Year
Headquartered in Amsterdam, eBuddy is an international tech company that enables millions of monthly global visitors to chat with one another free of charge across AOL, Google Talk, MSN, Facebook, and other sites. It is a truly international environment, with over 28 nationalities and a global HQ in Amsterdam. eBuddy has the Knowledge Migrant employer status for non EU and is hiring the best talents from all over the world, helping them in the process of relocating and integrating as family or single expats in the Netherlands. But according to the jury what set eBuddy apart was the feeling that beyond the professional environment is an atmosphere of connectedness and support that is not often found even in international business environments. eBuddy offers a complete support package to employees, including education, language courses, family support, and more. It also received the most quotes in its support, as well as the most votes from the public.
The runner up in the category was the United Network of Young Peacebuilders, which also received a considerable amount of votes and quotes, and impressed the jury with its support for its international employees and fostering diversity in its professional environment.
Newly Arrived HQ of the Year
Kuwait Petroleum International (known by its trademark Q8) is the inaugural winner of the Newly Arrived HQ category and recently established its European HQ in The Hague. It chose to move to the Netherlands due to a combination of factors including quality of life for its employees, convenience in reaching its other branches from Schipol Airport, access to international skills, and tax reasons. At this point, the company employs around 20 internationals, but that is expected to increase to over 100 in the next couple of years. The company was chosen for a number of factors including that its recognised name sends a message that the Netherlands is a good place for other big companies to establish international headquarters in the country.
The runner up in the New Arrived HQ of the Year was C.H. Robinson Europe, a company that came highly recommended by its employees and displayed considerable attention to the wellbeing of its employees and their families.
About the Expat Awards 2012
Created to recognise excellence in the international community, the Expat Awards are a joint initiative of international recruitment agency Undutchables, news and information site and service provider Expatica, and Nyenrode Business University and sponsored by ABN Amro, Interdean Relocation Services, KIT and the NFIA. They were set up to honour exceptional expats, outstanding employers and dedication to the wellbeing of international employees in a newly arrived HQ.
Please see http://www.expatoftheyear.nl/index.php for further information. The Expat of the Year Awards will return in January 2013, at which point the public will be able to nominate and vote once again.
Source: Expatica Rhys Wesley