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Leave your mark on the KAM landscape. Nominate yourself or someone remarkable for the Key Account Manager of the Year Award. Share your accomplishments, demonstrate your prowess, and inspire others.

Apply For Key Account Manager Of The Year

Gain industry-wide recognition, Professional Development Opportunities, Personal & Professional Growth and more.

Open to all Key Account Managers*

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*AKAM Membership is NOT required

Gain the recognition you deserve

Showcase your abilities with the Key Account Manager of the Year Award!

Whether you’ve sprinted through this year or mastered a marathon over three, your achievements deserve to be known. Sector, location, or size won’t hinder your impact – it’s your Key Account Management prowess that matters.

This isn’t just an award; it’s a testament to KAM and a career boost for you. It throws a spotlight on ‘how to do it’ for all to see – your company, your customer, and other key account managers.  No matter what sector or organisation, large or small.

The judges will be looking for:

  1. Depth and breadth of customer understanding
  2. Creativity (of any kind – offer or support or new approach)
  3. Customer value
  4. Contribution to your organisation’s strategic objectives.

Submit your journey for the Key Account Manager of the Year award by December 1st.

Receive FREE AKAM membership

We’ll give 12 months’ membership of AKAM FREE to all applicants.

If you know a great ket account manager, persuade them to submit an application and we’ll give 12 months’ membership of AKAM to you too!

How to enter

1. Statement

Summarise in just 500 words what you have done and achieved as a KAM (within the last 3 years).

2. Validation

Ask a nominator (e.g. line manager, customer) to broadly agree to your statement.

3. Apply

Complete the fillable PDF and send your application to us here:  [email protected]

4. Short List

Our judges will review you application & AKAM will tell you if you are short-listed.

5. Interview

Shortlisted KAMs complete a 30-minute video interview with judges.

OR
Download the Application Form

View this example entry to help you get started on writing your statement

Previous winners

The Key Account Manager of the Year Award embraces applications and nominations from across the globe – from North and South America to Australia, Asia, and numerous European regions. Our reach spans various industries and customer segments, showcasing the rich tapestry of KAM accomplishments. The short-listed applications consistently exhibit an exceptional standard, setting the bar high for recognition. Join a prestigious legacy of winners who’ve made their mark worldwide.

Key Account Manager of the year 2025

Could you be our next Key Account Manager of the year? Apply Today!

Key Account Manager of the year 2024

Lennard Kühne | Bossard, Germany

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Key Account Manager of the year 2024

Lennard Kühne

Bossard, Germany.

What did Lennard do to convince the judges?

  • Applied sound KAM methodology and tool box.
  • Successfully led a virtual team.
  • Explored the needs of multiple stakeholders in depth.
  • Co-constructed where and how to create more value for the customer. Specifically, optimized dual sourcing, improved design, reduced costs.
  • Developed and applied clear account strategy, including a relationship development plan.

And the result? Trust between supplier and customer was restored. The business recovered from a 50% revenue drop in 2 years, and growth returned with strong medium-term perspectives. (In fact, the account became the only growing Automotive customer!)


Lennard showed a real passion for the job of a (true) Key Account Manager.

 

Highly commended 2024

Peter Jones | Quantexa, UK

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Key Account Manager of the year 2023 highly commended

Peter Jones

Quantexa, United Kingdom

"I'm thrilled to share that I have been Highly Commended in The Association for Key Account Management’s Key Account Manager of the Year award!

While I didn’t take the top spot, being recognised among such incredible professionals is truly an honour. Many congratulations to Lennard Kühne.

This commendation is a reflection of the inspiring team around me at Quantexa. Key Account Management is never a solo effort—it takes a whole organisation committed to collaboration, innovation, and long-term partnership to truly make an impact. I’m lucky to work alongside colleagues who bring passion, dedication, and a shared vision to our relationships with key customers".

Key Account Manager of the year 2023

Michele Carlos | Philippines

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Key Account Manager of the year 2023

Michele Carlos

Philippines

What started as transactional relationship evolved to value co-creation partnership with my account. Understanding the intricacies of the account’s processes, providing data and purpose-driven insights, cross-functional collaboration and best practices sharing helped me to have a deeper understanding of key account management.  These customer-centric initiatives led to the co-creation of innovative category management and customization of program execution pre-pandemic, during pandemic and post-pandemic approach. These created the differentiation, impact and shape the direction of partnerships.

I am extremely grateful for the encouragement of my mentors and nomination.  I also encourage fellow key account managers to join as I took the opportunity not just for the competitive experience but to capture the thrill of sharing our value story.  This challenge helped me discover more opportunities for personal and career growth.

It is truly an honor to be recognized as AKAM KAM of the year 2023.   It is with continuous learning and development that will equip us and elevate us in today’s competitive business landscape to drive innovative initiatives. Thank you, AKAM, and may you have more inspirational stories to showcase!

Highly commended 2023

Luca Tiozzo | Bonfiglioli, Italy

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Key Account Manager of the year 2023 highly commended

Luca Tiozzo

Bonfiglioli, Italy

"I am thrilled to share that I have been recognized by the The Association for Key Account Management as "Highly Commended" Key Account Manager of 2023. It is an honor to be part of such a prestigious community of corporations, Key Account Managers, and academics dedicated to promoting excellence in Key Account Management.

I am sincerely grateful to AKAM for this recognition and for their commitment to advancing the standards of KAM through recognized qualifications, enhanced understanding, and professional practices, and research initiatives in underdeveloped areas of KAM.

Being a member of AKAM has been an enriching experience, and I look forward to continuing my involvement in this dynamic community".

Key Account Manager of the year 2022

Sandro Clos | Pfizer, Brazil

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Key Account Manager of the year 2022

Sandro Clos

Pfizer, Brazil

Sandro built a high level of trust with a large hospital group, which resulted in their sharing with him deep insights about a priority issue they faced. Sandro investigated and explored potential solutions.  He uncovered key information from contacts in the hospital, others in Pfizer and knowledgeable external parties.

He then collaborated with the hospital and other experts to create and deliver an excellent new solution that addressed the hospital’s issue. The approach required engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.  The new solution has proven highly successful, improving patient experience and the hospital’s effectiveness, and feedback from the hospital has been very positive.  An excellent solution-orientated approach.

Sandro said: “Thank you very much, I am very happy to be part of this select group of professionals!! My eternal gratitude to our work team integrated into the accounts, and thank you AKAM, this initiative contributes a lot to inspire more colleagues to share their achievements.”

Highly commended 2022

Steve Thomson | EMCOR, UK

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Key Account Manager of the year 2022

Steve Thomson

EMCOR, UK

The judges were impressed by all the finalists, yet would like to particularly mention Steve Thomson from EMCOR UK for sustained work driving key account management approaches. “In particular, Steve created great value for a key customer and EMCOR through setting up shared data management. This data improves utilisation of resource, monitors safety and raises the overall professionalism of the solutions EMCOR UK offers. It has provided the framework for a customer partnership which is going from strength to strength.”

Key Account Manager of the year 2021

Thierry Josselin | Axcelis, France

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Key Account Manager of the year 2021

Thierry Josselin

Axcelis, France

As Global Account Manager Thierry was tasked with delivering a partnership between his company, Axcelis, and a customer challenged to meet the needs of its own customer in the very fast-growing electric vehicle market.  Thierry demonstrates a true passion for key account management and has blended strong KAM disciplines with creative approaches.

He engaged customer and internal resources across countries, driving actions through his energy, use of metrics and dashboards.  He developed high levels of insight about the customer and market and deployed them to motivate positive team behaviours, which proved to be vital in creating and implementing solutions for the customer. They enabled the customer to meet major ramp-ups in demand requirements, achieving major share gains for Thierry’s own organisation with this customer.

Axcelis got great ratings from the customer scorecard and achieved no.1 position in many categories including ‘roadmap alignment’, ‘maintenance support’ and ‘account  management’.

Thierry’s demonstration of the power of key account management methodologies is being shared inside his organisation so others can learn from it and build further action for the future.

Thierry said: “I’m very honored to receive the Award. When I learned about the KAM of the Year Award, I saw a great opportunity for me to formalize the methodologies developed over the years and to describe at high level the tools and strategies utilized.

Only filling the application form was already a great achievement and feeling. I would encourage anybody to join AKAM and this program to continue to grow and learn.”

Highly commended 2021

Bob Delwig | Pfizer, Brussels

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Key Account Manager of the year 2021

Bob Delwig

Pfizer, Brussels

Bob Delwig from Pfizer CentreOne played a key role in championing and delivering a major project with a strategic customer, which was not without issues to overcome, over a considerable period of time. 

Bob did a great job of recognizing and appreciating the role of others within his organisation for the progress made, while he himself played an essential part in planning and gaining internal and customer buy-in to this high investment project, a ‘first of its kind’. The project – and Bob – delivered a highly positive outcome for Pfizer, for the customer and very importantly for patients too.

 

Key Account Manager of the year 2020

Margaret Free | Scheidt & Bachmann, US

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Key Account Manager of the year 2020

Margaret Free

Scheidt & Bachmann, US

“Maggie Free is a well-deserved winner: she showed exceptional focus, resilience and tenacity as a key account manager by stepping in to re-build trust after her organisation had suffered a serious setback with a strategically important transport customer. Maggie and her team maintained their clear focus, plan and long-term perspective despite complex hurdles and push-backs. Through sustained focus, deep listening to the customer, responsiveness and guidance, customer engagement has been transformed.

Internally, close interactions with senior management and global operations refuelled the appetite to grow with this customer. Collaboration with Human Resources enabled the selection and training of a cross-functional team supporting the construction of the value proposition.

Following the proactive proposal of a new solution to address the customers challenge, Maggie and the team won high-value business with further opportunities ahead. Maggie’s sustained application of key account management has been crucial to transforming the relationship and future prospects.

 

Key Account Manager of the year 2019

Amanda Strawbridge | Pfizer, US

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Key Account Manager of the year 2019

Amanda Strawbridge

Pfizer, US

A very worthy winner – a passionate key account manager who actively employs KAM to change customer perceptions and attention.

Amanda has built commitment and alignment across leadership, multi-functional, customer and internal groups and developed insight-led value propositions through the voice of the customer and stakeholder research. See Amanda’s video to find out how.

She showed a joined-up approach in which strategy and execution were powerfully linked, bringing about strong commercial gains and wider benefits for society.

Clear value has been delivered, with strong customer endorsement opening up future opportunities for continued productive collaboration.

Key Account Manager of the year 2018

Mark Sourd | Pfizer, France

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Key Account Manager of the year 2018

Mark Sourd

Pfizer, France

The judges found that Marc demonstrated essential KAM characteristics and best practices really well.

He had to deal with a complex and challenging account, and his continuous commitment has been vital in gaining the internal and customer support needed to advance relationships and results. He managed the creation of customised solutions and tools that have been vital to success.

Thanks to his analytical skills, Marc has introduced and managed performance metrics and governance for success. He has also changed his own mindset to embrace the broader requirements of KAM, over and above his originally sales-focused approach.

Celebrating excellence with diverse global recognition

Apply for Key Account Manager of the year today

Get recognition of your dedication, innovation, and impact by applying for the Key Account Manager of the Year Award. Elevate your profile, amplify your impact, and join an esteemed league of winners.

Download your application form now and pave your path to triumph!

Download Application Form

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