The underlying motivation behind the European Business Leaders Awards is to discover which CEOs are building and sustaining entrepreneurship, developing best practices and carving out powerful businesses in the global economy. What defines 'smart' leadership today? How do CEOs continue to innovate in business, products and services whilst delivering growth for customers, suppliers and shareholders? Through the independent platform of the European Business Leaders Awards

programme, CNBC Europe pays tribute to the most outstanding executive leaders in Europe today.

In its fourth year, the EBLA has gained the respect and participation of the best in business leadership with the contributions of the chief executives in Europe’s top-ranked companies.

CNBC Europe will announce the winners of the European Business Leaders Awards on 22 March 2007 to an audience consisting of the