The etymology of the word “award” has nothing to do with prizing or pricing. Coming from Old French, it originally meant, “to decide, to examine, after careful observation and consideration.” It places the emphasis on the examination rather than on the mark and attaches a value to the observation rather than the ranking.

This is exactly the philosophy of the IMD-Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch Distinguished Family Business Award. It is far away from any scales of triple A, double Y or a simple Moody’s ranking. The winners may be 200 or 40 years old, may be Spanish, French or Danish; they may produce toys, perfumes, food or clothes.
The experts attributing the IMD-Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch Distinguished Family Business Award do not merely count up or cast a detached glance at some lengthy columns of figures; they examine the financial, strategic, and ethical aspects of the business with a “careful consideration” that reveals who are the people running the business, where they go, how and on which values they grow. It is not a pricing but an understanding of a whole corporate identity, a family and business personality, a set of best practices; therefore it is an award and not a prize.

For over 200 years and through seven generations, Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch has had the privilege of listening to, advising, and accompanying entrepreneurs and families. This responsibility - as independent private bankers and partners in a position of trust - has allowed us to understand the main characteristics and special features of family businesses. We are therefore proud and delighted to have been associated for the past nine years with the awarding of a distinction that recognizes such long-term excellence and achievement in the service of family businesses worldwide.