2008 ranking (9)
2009 review: It has been a busy year for the head of the Meetings, Events and Communications division, Grass Roots. Bender cites the rebranding of the agency, which brought HBI, MMM, DMS and Maritz together for the first time, as a personal highlight. Weathering the storm in more ways than one, Grass Roots delivered a Hong Kong event for SWIFT despite the onset of a typhoon, and won significant business with Pfizer's international congress account.

Nominations came in their hundreds for the agency's Managing Director, including one from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Director of Business Development MICE Valerie Vayssiere, who states: "I nominate Nick for his ability to drive and win new business for Grass Roots during the recession, and his consistent focus on the care of clients and suppliers, and best solutions. I also admire his positive behaviour during hard times."