Axis founder is Ernst & Young Entrepreneur 2008

BANGALORE, INDIA: Axis, a provider in IT services, announced on Tuesday that Martin Gren, one of the founders of Axis Communications, was named Sweden's most successful entrepreneur and also bagged the title Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year 2008 that took place at Stockholm city hall.

Martin Gren also received the prize for best international growth, a prize category that is awarded by SEB, said a press release.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year report states, "This year's winner has developed security equipment that is found in stores, industries, banks and in airports all over the world. Through visionary thinking and innovative creativeness, this year's winner has built up a multi-billion industry that helps to create a safer world."

"This year's winner has become the world's largest company in network security cameras through innovative entrepreneurship and technological business acumen," it said.

"I am happy and proud to have been awarded the prizes. At Axis, we know that there has been tough competition from other capable entrepreneurs and business owners in Sweden. To be an entrepreneur, you must always be at the cutting edge. We have been consistently good at this throughout the company's 25-year history,” said, Martin Gren.

He added that other important success factors are that they have worked strictly according to the business model and focused on development of network products.

Axis was founded in Lund in1984 and the company's first product was an IBM protocol converter, the release added.

The company has refined its focus over the years and today Axis is global market leader for network cameras, which are used, first and foremost, for surveillance.

Axis has offices in more than 20 countries and works globally with an indirect sales model through distributors and has more than 24,000 system integrators in more than 70 countries, the release said.

"Axis is a young, modern IT company that lies at the cutting edge in the development of network video products and which is currently in an expansionary phase. During 2008 more than 150 new employees have been recruited and new offices have been established in Moscow, Peking and São Paulo," says Ray Mauritsson, president, Axis Communications.

“With 25 years' experience of both product and partner networks, Axis is today the world leading supplier of network cameras,” he added.