Words: Philippa Harvey
A proudly South African success story, Roman’s Pizza has grown considerably under the leadership of CEO John Nicolakakis. Nicolakakis’ entrepreneurial spirit, determination and commitment to the brand has been recognised through his nominations in the All Africa Business Leader Awards (AABLA) 2015. He was announced as a finalist in both the Young Business Leader Award and Young Entrepreneur Award categories, and at a prestigious event on the 30th of September 2015 John was announced as the joint winner of the Young Business Leader Award, shared with Ashley Uys of Medical Diagnostics.
The AABLA Awards were created to honour remarkable leadership and salute those who have contributed to and shaped the African economy. In order to be considered for the Awards, individuals must demonstrate that they are dynamic and successful leaders, capable of ingenuity and innovation and continuously striving for excellence. Bringing together his extensive experience in the fast food industry and his background in finance, Nicolakakis has steered the Roman’s Pizza brand through the transition from a small family business to a medium-sized corporation while remaining dedicated to what the brand has always been proud of: high-quality food and good value for money, hence the Roman's Pizza motto - “Best Pizza. Best Value.”
Nicolakakis says, “It was a huge honour to be nominated for these significant awards and to be chosen as a winner is one of the highlights of my career. I am also very excited for what the future will bring for the Roman’s Pizza brand. It has been a long and challenging road, however the continued support of the South African consumer has made us who we are today. These nominations were only possible due to our remarkable franchisees and head office team who inspire me to steer the ship successfully with a positive and light-hearted attitude. I also need to thank all of our loyal customers, as without them, Roman’s Pizza wouldn’t be as successful as it is today. Thank you, South Africa!”
