Diane Foreman was named Ernst & Young New Zealand entrepreneur of the year at an awards ceremony last night.
Foreman will now go on to represent New Zealand in the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo in 2010.
Chief judge David Johnson said Foreman "ticked all the boxes and a couple of little extras" at the final presentations.
"We were impressed with the diversity of it, I mean, a lot of people go through perhaps one industry, she is in heath and property and obviously in food with New Zealand Natural," he said.
"She had to stand out against some incredibly strong candidates and it was down to some very fine pieces but she really presented herself exceptionally well."
Foreman left school at 15 and was promoted to the Trigon Holdings board after former husband Bill suffered a stroke in 1990. She rose to become CEO and negotiated the sale of the company to United States interests for $130 million.
Her company, Emerald Group, is responsible for the international success of the New Zealand Natural ice cream brand, which has 680 stores in 21 countries.
Diane Foreman named entrepreneur of the year
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