Green Motion Founder and CEO Richard Lowden has been announced as a finalist for the SME National Business Awards "Lockdown Leader" Award.

"Being a leader of people and an organisation is a difficult task at any time but steering a ship through a COVID storm requires someone to take charge, make decisions and provide clear direction," SME National Business Awards organizers said in a statement. "The finalists for this award kept their team motivated and informed despite everyone working from home, and have continued to inspire and show passion and optimism in exceptionally difficult circumstances."

"I am honoured to have been nominated for the 'Lockdown Leader' Award, and even more delighted to be announced as a Finalist," Lowden said. "2020 was the most challenging year for all of us, and I am incredibly proud of my team's efforts during the pandemic not just to keep our business going, but to actually grow — expanding our international network, as well as leading our industry as the first international car rental brand to introduce and implement a standardized set of safety measures right across our global network, designed to ensure the security and well being of our valued customers and staff." 

The full list of finalists can be found here.

The winners will be announced at the SME Awards 2020 ceremony on May 6.