ASAP Announces 2014 Alliance Excellence Award Winners

Canton, MA (PRWEB) May 12, 2014

The Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP), the world’s leading professional association dedicated to the practice of alliance management, announced its five 2014 Alliance Excellence Award winners at its recent Global Alliance Summit held in Scottsdale, Arizona. Companies and organizations receiving awards included Cisco Systems, Covance, DNDi, Eli Lilly and Company, KPMG, NetApp, and Sanofi.

ASAP’s Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility award went to the drug company Sanofi and the organization DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative), which together have formed the Alliance Against Malaria. Taking the bold step to not patent its drug, the partnership thus far has made available over 200 million treatments in Africa. As he handed out the award, ASAP CEO Mike Leonetti remarked to them that this “is the one that always gets me a bit choked up, because the work you do is not just for the sake of revenue, but also for the benefit of your fellow man.” The Alliance Against Malaria’s objective has been to develop in record time a new treatment against malaria that would meet the UN World Health Organization’s requirements, and be affordable for all. They have also trained trainers in malaria management, and sponsored public awareness initiatives reaching more than three million children.

The Individual Alliance Excellence Award for a Long-Established Alliance was won by Covance, a clinical research organization (CRO), and Eli Lilly and Company, a leading pharmaceutical company. The first pharma-CRO alliance of its kind, this 10-year-old alliance has exceeded original expectations and is estimated to have added over 500 jobs, over $35 million in annual wages and $102 million in annual output to the state of Indiana. It was structured to meet the objectives of each partner, and resulted in new methodologies yielding greater efficiency in drug development.

Cisco and NetApp together won the Individual Alliance Excellence award for an Emerging Alliance. In three years, this alliance has gone from zero revenue to joint revenue of over $1 billion and more than 3,000 customers globally. Its “FlexPod” solution has been rated the #1 Integrated Infrastructure by analyst firm IDC. Its collaborative model continues to evolve.

Cisco Systems’ “Automated Online Business Consulting for Partners” won ASAP’s award for Innovative Alliance Best Practice. The E-Consulting for Partners platform offers a holistic connected system helping more than 15,000 registered users navigate their business with the company. “Its partner-centric approach provides a simplified view of all aspects of the partner’s business with Cisco,” said Leonetti. Partners using E-Consulting generated more sales, with lower delivery and replacement costs.

KPMG LLP won the award for Excellence in an Alliance Program. Its GTM (go-to-market) “People and Change Project” was built in-house by a core team, focusing on three groups that would play key roles in the alliance program: business leaders, alliance partners, and client teams. KPMG noted that committed business sponsorship and clear strategy were keys to alliance success. Its alliance program helped client teams worldwide, resulting in more alliance approvals; using a six-step process, the company launched 12 new alliances last year.

ASAP recognized its Toronto Chapter for Program Innovation, noting its excellence in planning and implementing a marketing plan for chapter events that incorporated social media as well as personal invitations from each chapter board member; the chapter enhanced networking opportunities too as well as membership follow-up, resulting in well-attended events. It success in recruiting new members and rejuvenating its board helped fuel its improved program.

ASAP Board Chairman Russ Buchanan, CSAP, and Annlouise Goodermuth, CSAP, chair of the awards committee, joined Leonetti on stage to recognize the winners. Leonetti told the audience, “An ASAP Alliance Excellence Award is the most prestigious honor for business collaborators—the world’s premier award celebrating advancements in the management of strategic alliances.”

About ASAP
The Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP) is the only professional association dedicated to elevating and promoting the profession of alliance management. Founded in 1998, the organization provides professional development, networking and resources for cultivating the skills and toolsets needed to manage successful business partnerships. ASAP’s professional certifications include the Certificate of Achievement-Alliance Management (CA-AM) and Certified Strategic Alliance Professional (CSAP). Active global members include AbbVie, Astellas, AstraZeneca, CA Technologies, Capgemini, Cisco, Citrix, Covance, Dell, Eli Lilly and Company, IBM, the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, KPMG, Microsoft, Novartis, Sanofi, SAS, Schneider Electric, Verizon, VMware, The Warren Company, and Xerox. A complete list of global members is available at http://www.strategic-alliances.org.

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