EY has announced that Subhash Makhija, CEO and Co-Founder of GEP, a leading provider of procurement software and procurement services to Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies worldwide, received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year® 2016 Award in the technology solutions and staffing category in New Jersey.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award program. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Makhija was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event at the Hyatt Regency,New Brunswick on June 23, 2016.

"The people of GEP delight our customers every day – and this, more than anything, made GEP a global industry leader and sustained our rapid growth year after year," said Makhija. "At the same time, the management team – including co-founders Roopa Makhija, Neha Shah and Jagadish Turimella – has demonstrated enormous skill, dedication and energy. I am inspired by the people of GEP and it is on their behalf that I thank EY and the judges."

Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation and discipline have propelled their companies' success, invigorated their industries, and benefited their communities. Now in its 30th year, the program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, Robert Unanue of Goya Foods, and Mindy Grossman of HSN. Recent US national winners include Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn; Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani; and 2015 winnersAndreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks.

As a New Jersey award winner, Makhija is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur of the Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur of the Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 19, 2016. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, a prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Monaco in June of 2017.

SPONSORS

Founded and produced by EY, Entrepreneur of the Year is nationally sponsored by SAP America, Merrill Corporation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In addition, Merrill Corporation is the official and preferred data partner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards as a global leader in secure content sharing, regulated communications and compliance services. Merrill Corporation's DataSite is used to facilitate the judges' independent review of nominations.

In New Jersey, sponsors also include PNC, DLA Piper, Morgan Lewis, Pine Hill Group, Cresa, Empire Valuation Consultants, SolomonEdwards Group and NJBIZ.

ABOUT EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR®

EY Entrepreneur of the Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur of the Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

ABOUT EY'S STRATEGIC GROWTH MARKETS PRACTICE

EY's Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets.

ABOUT EY

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ABOUT GEP

GEP is a diverse, creative team of people passionate about procurement. We invest ourselves entirely in our clients' success, creating strong collaborative relationships that deliver extraordinary value year after year. We deliver practical, effective procurement services and procurement technology that enable procurement leaders to maximize their impact on business operations, strategy and financial performance.