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Above & beyond

Rachael Steed celebrates the winners
of the sixth annual Finlays United Awards

The annual Finlays United Awards are all about recognizing the amazing things Finlays people do across the world. They are one of the many ways we celebrate individuals and teams across the business for living our values and delivering our purpose. This is the sixth time we have run these awards, and the response this year was fantastic with an incredible 521 nominations. I’m delighted to present the winners from this year’s ceremony….

the ACTING FOR THE LONG-TERM AWARD

This award is for people at Finlays who have “done the right thing today for a better tomorrow”. This means ensuring we look after our people, and the planet, and always seek to make Finlays and our partners stronger for the future.

Winner: Federico Benay,
Finlays Argentina

Federico was recognized for driving two major carbon removal and sustainability initiatives. One of these is the development of the Argente compost site, which not only benefits the environment but also makes Finlays Argentina more efficient, resilient, and competitive. Federico’s forward-thinking leadership is a great example of Acting for the Long-Term.

the TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY AWARD

This award is for those who have taken ownership of their words, actions and results. It recognizes people who have done what it takes to get the job done, delivered for our colleagues, customers or partners and, who are accountable for their actions.

Winner: Stephanie Trachtenberg, Finlays Solutions, USA

Stephanie won this award for her outstanding work in delivering a cohesive, modern Finlays Solutions brand that not only feels unique, but also natural to the business. She successfully strengthened internal pride, improved communication consistency, and enhanced how Finlays Solutions is recognized both internally and on the global stage.

the DOING BETTER EACH TIME AWARD

This award is for those who have challenged themselves and others to build a stronger Finlays. It recognizes people who have found better ways to do tasks, who have delighted our customers or stakeholders, and who have been ambitious in their goals.

Winner: Zheng Huoxiong, Damin

Huoxiong won this award for leading ambitious initiatives that resulted in tangible financial and environmental gains. By taking a data-driven approach to coffee yields during the roasting process, and optimizing performance in the freeze drying and refrigeration processes, Huoxiong collectively saved money while also lowering the environmental impact of operations. A fantastic achievement!

THE SUCCEEDING TOGETHER AWARD

This award recognizes those who have collaborated to deliver excellence, and have valued each other’s contributions. This value is all about teamwork, support, encouragement, recognition and leveraging the wealth of expertise that exists at Finlays.

Winner: Tabay Factory Team, Finlays Argentina: Enzo DaRosa, Alejandro Viana, Leonardo Benitez, Jose Hein, Marcelo Lopez, Pablo Boichuk, Ivan Mykoluk, Diego Baez, and Ricardo Galarza

This team were tasked with creating a new green tea production facility. What could have become a long and complex transition turned into an extraordinary demonstration of collaboration, commitment, and excellence. In just three months, they completed the full transformation, delivering one of the fastest and most impactful operational changes in Finlays Argentina’s history.

THE DELIVERING OUR PURPOSE AWARD

This award is for those who have delivered on our Purpose of “Empowering our customers to create a world where every sip brings joy”. Our Purpose is why Finlays exists as a business, and this year, our three finalists all exemplify customer focus, and striving to create a world where every sip brings joy.

Winner: Project Flourish 3.0 Team at Head Office and Finlay Tea Extracts Kenya.

This team successfully delivered one of Finlays’ biggest ever IT projects – implementing a new ERP system at Finlays Tea Extracts Kenya. Its successful delivery means that both our US and Kenyan Solutions businesses are operating on the same system. In just 10 months, the team built and tested the new system, trained 400 staff, migrated extensive data, and are now preparing to replicate this success in the US.

THE EVERYDAY HERO AWARD

This award is for those who go above and beyond to create a culture of belonging and make Finlays a great place to work for us all.

Winner: Michaela Halse,
Head Office

Michaela won this award for consistently going above and beyond to support the London Executive team, Head Office and wider Finlays colleagues while actively contributing to numerous committees. In 2025, Michaela was also actively involved with the roll out of Finlays’ new Purpose and Values, Health & Safety campaigns, Finlays Women in Business initiatives, and other key events. Michaela is a true example of what it means to be an Everyday Hero.

A huge congratulations to all of our Finlays United Award winners, runners-up, and everyone who
was nominated!

Rachael Steed
Head of People James Finlay Limited