Berlin, 1 September 2026,  IntelliNews, a leading provider of business news and data about emerging markets, announces the winners of its inaugural Reputation Leaders Awards in the Innovator of the Year category.

Ten winning companies across major industries were selected from a longlist of 50 nominees as part of the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards - an independent awards programme celebrating companies across Central-Eastern Europe, Eurasia, MENA and Africa that stand out for their leadership and strong reputation in key areas of business performance and impact.

The following companies were named Innovators of the Year in 2026:

• Bolt (Tech and Digital Services, Northeastern Europe)

• Riyadh Air (Aviation, MENA)

• Bank of Georgia (Banking and Financial Services, Eurasia)

• Ma'aden (Metals and Mining, MENA)

• OMV Petrom (Energy and Chemicals, Eastern Europe)

• Jumia (Retail and Consumer Goods, Africa)

• Agropolychim (Agrochemicals and Plant Nutrition, Eastern Europe)

• Kumba Iron Ore (Metals and Mining, Africa)

• Gedeon Richter (Medical and Healthcare, Eastern Europe)

• Emirates NBD (Banking and Financial Services, MENA)

The Innovator of the Year category highlights companies that have established an exceptional reputation for innovation - organisations that drive breakthrough ideas, transform industries, and create forward-thinking solutions that deliver measurable business impact.

Launched in 2026, the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards recognise companies across four categories: employer excellence, innovation, corporate citizenship and business performance. Nominated companies and winners will be announced for all four categories throughout the year, with 10 companies in each category to be named as Reputation Leaders. The awards are not intended as a ranking.

Longlists are compiled based on the results of open submissions, third-party recommendations and independent research carried out by IntelliNews and its partners.

Final decisions are made by an expert panel consisting of IntelliNews editorial staff, with input from key outlet contributors and analysts with relevant sector expertise.

See more information about the Innovator of the Year winners and the award category at: https://www.intellinews.com/awards/innovator

Learn more about the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards at: https://www.intellinews.com/awards