It's the second award in two years for Widdows, whose company operates APL, the world's fifth-largest container shipping line. Last November, the 40-year shipping veteran was named Admiral of the Ocean Sea at the annual AOTOS awards event in New York.
A second Connie Award has gone to SSA Marine CEO Jon Hemingway. Both executives were honored at an awards dinner in Long Beach, California.
'I'm deeply grateful for this recognition, especially when I consider the honor roll of those who have been selected to receive this recognition in the past, and I am very proud to have shared this year's podium with Jon Hemingway, someone I have known for many years, and have great respect for,' said Widdows. 'I share this recognition with my colleagues who work tirelessly to deliver the level of service that our customers have come to expect from APL, it is their work, the building of the APL brand, and our willingness to take up issues that impact our industry that is really the reason for this honor.'
The Connie Awards are based on an industry poll. They're presented annually to maritime executives for significant influence on containerization in world trade and transportation.' Past winners include Malcom McLean, viewed as the founder of container shipping, and former APL CEO Bruce Seaton.
Widdows, who's also Chairman of the World Shipping Council, is considered the industry's leading voice on trade and transport issues. His message to the audience of shipping executives at the Connie Awards: the industry must learn from a disastrous 2009.
'We've recovered from last year's staggering financial losses,' Widdows said. 'We have to learn from the experiences over the last year and a half and be prepared to make better decisions in the future.'
As part of the awards ceremony, the CEO announced a $40,000 NOL grant to Glendale, California-based International Trade Education Programs. The program provides trade and transport curriculum for at-risk high school students in five Southern California cities. Widdows said the grant has been earmarked for college scholarships.
