ACES Awards marks another year of Asian excellence

Think of a thriving business, and a few things may come to mind:

Record-breaking sales, rapid expansion, or a name that tops industry rankings.

These have come to define what success looks like around the world, as companies continue to raise the bar and strive for even greater accomplishments.

MORS Group, a business consulting and research organization, looks beyond these traditional measures, placing equal importance on the efforts that often go unnoticed:

how leaders guide their teams, empower people to reach their full potential, and care for the communities they serve.

“The greatest measure of what we build is not what it gives us, but what makes it possible for others,” says MORS Group CEO and ACES Council President Shanggari Balakrishnan.

One way MORS Group puts this philosophy into practice is through the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards.

What The Awards Stand For

Established in 2014, the ACES Awards recognizes individuals and organizations shaping the future of responsible business across Asia.

Through research-driven evaluation, the regional platform honors excellence across three pillars:

• Individual leadership
  Recognizes leaders whose integrity, vision, and mentorship inspire others, nurture future talent, and create lasting change within organizations, industries, and communities
• Corporate leadership
  Celebrates organizations that combine sound governance and operational excellence with responsible growth, accountability, and long-term resilience
• Sustainability impact
  Honors organizations that embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their operations and deliver measurable benefits for people and the planet

Its aim is straightforward: to spotlight exemplary practices that other organizations can learn from and adopt.

Inside The 2026 Edition

On October 15 and 16, the 13th ACES Awards gathered business leaders, corporate representatives, and sustainability advocates from more than 25 countries and regions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

While the 2025 theme, “The Power of Continuum,” highlighted sustained progress, this year’s theme, “Beyond Business,” emphasized the role of responsibility in everyday business decisions.

“‘Beyond Business’ reflects a broader view of excellence,” shares the ACES Awards Organizing Committee.

“Financial performance remains important, but true leadership is also measured by how results are achieved and the lasting value created for employees, society, and the environment.”

The event also featured summits where attendees could exchange ideas, share insights, and build connections.

A Network With Purpose

The ACES Circle extends this spirit of community beyond the annual program.

“I have always believed that recognition should be the start of something greater,” adds Balakrishnan.

“This is the spirit of the ACES Circle: a community where extraordinary journeys intersect, experiences are shared generously, and individual accomplishments can inspire possibilities far beyond our own enterprises.”

Through the initiative, members gain access to expert-led masterclasses, leadership and sustainability training, CEO roundtables and networking luncheons. 

“This is what makes the ACES Circle significant to me,” explains ACES Council Vice Chairman Luis Nieto.

“It brings together people willing to move beyond minimum expectations and demonstrate what responsible competitiveness can look like in practice.”

A Place For Pinoy Leaders

Among the awardees are 16 Filipinos who reflect those same values.

Nickel Asia Corporation Founder Manuel Zamora Jr. received the Industry Pioneer Award for his contributions to the mining sector.

He spearheaded the transformation of a mining concession into the country’s largest nickel ore producer, while establishing its presence in mineral processing.

His early work also paved the way for the company’s expansion into renewable energy generation, supporting the Philippines’ transition to a cleaner energy future.

His story is one of many that demonstrate how leadership grounded in vision and integrity can create lasting progress for businesses and communities alike.

As ACES Council Honorary Chairman Hemant Batra puts it, “The awardees represent achievement, but they also represent a wider proposition: that Asia’s next chapter will be defined not only by the scale of what we build, but by the quality of the institutions, standards, and principles that sustain it.”

For more information, visit https://www.acesawards.com.