Michael Hill will compete against entrepreneurs from 50 countries in a bid to win the title of Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monte Carlo on May 31.
Hill, the chairman of directors of Michael Hill International, was recently named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2008 in New Zealand from a field of 18.
On news of the win, Hill said it was “an absolute privilege” to win the award.
“I’m going to give it my best shot for New Zealand at the world awards in Monte Carlo ,” he said.
Chairman of the judging panel, David Johnson, who is chief executive of Trends International and who won the inaugural Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998, said Michael Hill ticks all the boxes required to win the Award.
“He’s achieved everything he set out to achieve but what impressed the judges most was a desire to keep setting and achieving goals,” Johnson said.
Hill, who opened his first jewellery store 23 years ago after a three-month career as a watch maker, controls the Michael Hill International chain which has over 200 stores in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US – and aims to own 1000 stores by 2024.