Four business leaders from Suffolk and Essex have been named among the winners in the 2016 East of England Director of the Year Awards.

Oliver Lincoln of VestGuard UK, based at Tolleshunt Knights, near Maldon, won the International Director of the Year title and also went on to claim the overall Regional Director of the Year award.

Andy Wood, chief executive of Southwold-based Adnams, won the Family Business Director of the Year title and Claire Woodman of Ipswich-based Poppy Nursing and Care Services won the Director of the Year title for smaller businesses, with annual turnover less than £10m.

Also among the winners was Mark Abraham of Wilson James, based at Westcliff-on-Sea, who was named Director of the Year title for large businesses, with turnover of more than £100m.

Candidates from Suffolk and Essex highly commended in the awards, which were announced during a ceremony held at the Jockey Club in Newmarket, included Helen Rudd of Ipswich-based Prominent PR (in the Young Director of the Year category), Gary Packham from the Lord Ashcroft International Business School at Anglia Ruskin University, which has sites in Chelmsford and Cambridge, (Corporate Social Responsibility Director of the Year) and Christine Bhatt of Systematics International from Battlesbridge (International Director).

David Sales, East of England chairman at the Institute of Directors, which organises the awards, said: “It is a huge pleasure to announce the results for the awards for 2016.

“The people named above represent some of the most exceptional directors that we have in the region. Each is providing exceptional role-modelling of innovation, determination, customer focus and in building a fantastic workplace culture.”