Guy Jones, NatWest’s director of commercial banking for Cardiff and East Wales, has been named a finalist in Wales’ independent leadership awards.

The Leading Wales Awards, in association with Cardiff Metropolitan University, seek to recognise and celebrate the contribution of leaders and leadership as a key driver of economic growth and success in Wales.

Guy, who lives in Newport, has been nominated in the Team Leader category for his leadership role at NatWest, and is one of just two finalists in the category.

Another local businessman, Tom Wood, director of RWA in Blaenavon, has been nominated in the Leadership for the Future category for his leadership role at RWA and is one of 4 finalists in the category.

James Norvill, CEO, GD Environmental Services, which is based in Newport, is also a finalist in the Leadership in the Private Sector category.

Barbara Chidgey, chairman of the Leading Wales Awards, said: “It is a real achievement for individuals to get to this stage, and we congratulate each one of our 24 finalists. This is a particularly special year for us as we celebrate ten years of ‘celebrating leaders in Wales’. Once again we have reached out across the country and have brought together as category finalists a diverse range of individuals whose leadership really is making a difference whether in business or in social enterprise, or in the public or voluntary sectors in Wales.”

Guy said: “It’s an honour to be nominated for these prestigious awards and I’m delighted not only for myself but for my team and for NatWest as a whole. Our emphasis is on putting customers first and we can only do that when we are motivated, working well together and with clear goals.”

Tom Wood said: “It is a proud achievement to have made it to the final and to have been nominated by my employees. This category is important to me, personally, as it is about sustainable leadership and recognises the hard work we are doing at RWA to build for the future. We are passionate about achieving commercial success through developing our people and by developing relationships with community groups and stakeholders to whom we can volunteer our skills and resources.”

The winners will be announced at a lunch at the Hilton, Cardiff on Thursday, June 5, 2014.

Past winners include Newport-based businesswoman Laura Tenison, managing director of Jo Jo Maman Bebe, and Mark Mathias, chief superintendent of South Wales Police, with honorary awards being made to other famous Welsh leaders including past First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton.