Sunny D CEO Billy Cyr has received the 2010
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Award in the consumer products category in South Central Ohio and Kentucky.
The prestigious award recognizes entrepreneurs "who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities," according to Ernest and Young. Cyr, who has been President and CEO of the Blue Ash-based company since 2004, was chosen for it by an independent panel of judges of local business owners and previous award recipients.
"The essence of an entrepreneur is risk taking - and that is exactly what each of our employees did when they left the friendly confines of a large company to join a much smaller and inherently riskier venture. We proudly describe our company as 'a highly motivated band of big company refugees,'” Cyr said.
Cyr joined Sunny D in 2001 before becoming President. He's a former Procter & Gamble Vice President and General Manager of North America Juice Products. He began his career at P&G in marketing and brand management for brands including Folgers, Duncan Hines and Crush. The eastern Pennsylvania native is a Princeton University graduate.
Cyr led the team the established Sunny Delight Beverages Company in 2004, when a Boston-based private equity firmed acquired Sunny D from P&G. The company has quintupled its earnings over the past five years, and acquired the Fruit2O and Veryfine from Kraft Foods in 2007, as well as Bossa Nova, acai juice maker in 2009, according to Sunny D.
As a regional award winner, Cyr is up for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 national awards which will be announced in Palm Springs, California in November.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Sources: Sydney McHugh, Sunny Delight Beverage Company
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