Kurt Walker to receive R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 Label Industry Global Awards

Judging for the 12th annual awards program took place during the FINAT European Label Forum (ELF) in Amsterdam, where the judging panel met to consider nominations across this and three additional award categories, and details of the shortlisted entries can read here.

Sponsored by Avery Dennison, the R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon an individual who has made a substantial and key contribution to the label industry over a minimum of 25 years.

After graduating from university, Walker entered the printing industry where he has held various positions in sales and marketing. In 1988 he joined the label industry and acted, until his retirement in 2012, as chief executive officer (CEO) of tesa Bandfix in Switzerland.

Walker became a member of the FINAT board in 1999 and has also served as vice-president, membership committee member and treasurer before being appointed president of the worldwide association for the self-adhesive labeling industry in 2011.

Walker is also a significant supporter of the L7, now L9, and has been instrumental in helping grow the alliance’s profile and importance, whilst also helping secure and ensure the ongoing success of FINAT’s Young Managers Club.

Mike Fairley, chair of the judges, said: ‘Kurt Walker was the unanimous choice of the judging panel. His impressive long-term industry pedigree as CEO of tesa Bandfix, as well as terms as treasurer, vice president and president of FINAT – where he encouraged and built global links and supported the establishment and growth of the highly successful Young Managers Club – made him the stand-out choice for this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

‘We look forward to honoring Kurt and the other winners in person at the awards ceremony in September.’

Walker joins past winners of the R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award including Suzanne Zaccone of GSI Technologies, Tomas Rink of Ritrama, RotoMetric’s Steve Lee, Helmut Schreiner, Nilpeter’s Lars Eriksen and FLEXcon’s Neil McDonough.

Walker will officially be presented with his award at the Label Industry Global Awards 2015 ceremony and dinner on September 29. Held as part of Labelexpo Europe 2015 in Brussels, Belgium limited tickets are still available to purchase for the ceremony and dinner at www.labelawards.com.