David Darmanin, the founder and CEO of Hotjar, a business which helps website owners understand user behaviour and optimise conversions, has won the third edition of EY's Malta Entrepreneur of the Year award. He will travel to Monaco in June to represent Malta and compete in EY's World Entrepreneur of the Year award together with business leaders from more than 60 countries. 

Ben Remfrey, Managing Director at Praedium Consulting Limited, specialists in training NGOs and governments to clear mines following armed conflict, has won EY's Rising Star award, sponsored by Melita Limited, and will also be attending the Monaco event in June.

For the first time, an additional Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented this year. This year's recipient is Carmelo Debono, who since the 1960s has built up Maypole to become one of Malta's leading baked goods brand.

Ronald Attard, EY Malta's Managing Partner said: "EY's Malta Entrepreneur of the Year award has once again attracted exceptionally strong nominations. Although website analytics tools, mine clearance and food manufacturing and retail are clearly completely different sectors, all our winners have demonstrated an outstanding ability to build very successful organisations through determination, a clear vision, and a willingness to adapt and innovate. For anyone who has Malta's economic wellbeing at heart to see such entrepreneurship across generations and sectors is extremely encouraging. I would also like to thank Melita for sponsoring the Rising Star Award and Corinthia Group for sponsoring the awards ceremony."

EY has been holding the Entrepreneur of the Year awards on a global basis for three decades. Now spread to more than 60 countries, it has created a global network of 50,000 entrepreneurs and is the global benchmark for capturing today's and tomorrow's entrepreneurial spirit. Over half of today's top 100 NASDAQ companies have won EY's Entrepreneur of the Year award, and most received the award before they achieved top 100 status.