And the Winners Are...

Photo by Karl-Oskar Bjurenstedt

On Friday evening, March 6, Bonnier invited a crowd of 150 of their sales staff to celebrate their peers' accomplishments at this year's Bonnier Sales Awards.  The ceremony took place at Stockholm City Hall's Golden Hall.  Men and women from eight countries were resplendent in dark suits and sequins, hair neatly combed or cascading in curls.  

 "I was very nervous in the midst of January that we would not receive enough nominations.  But we got more than 70 solid nominations," Senior Vice President of Bonnier Broadcasting and Bonnier Entertainment Jonas Eriksson said to the crowd.  "You 14 [finalists] have been singled out as the best of the best."

One by one, Jonas Eriksson and Jonas Bonnier announced the four grand prize winners to the sound of raucous cheering and popping mylar streamers.  The Rookie of the Year, was awarded with a check for 3,000 Euros, while the winners in the other three categories—Sales Manager of the Year, Telephone Sales Representative of the Year and Field Sales Representative of the Year—each received a check for 10,000 Euros. 

As the crowds surged around her, Rookie of the Year winner Linn Weilar of SF Media beamed from the stage.  "I did not expect it, and it feels great.  It's such a relief.  We were waiting for it all night, and finally it's done and I'm very, very grateful."

Many jumped to their feet when Jonas Irebjörk's name was called for Sales Manager of the Year.  The TV4 Sverige executive's calm face betrayed a bit of shock.  "You don't expect to win an award for your work, but I'm proud.  This is special to me, so I'm grateful," he said.

Untangling himself from the blue streamers strewn about the floor, MTV Finland's Juha Tuominen said, "When I go back, I'm going to share this with my colleagues, because it's not just my win, it's teamwork in sales, definitely."

Popular Science's Patrick Notaro received a long ovation for his emotional expression of gratitude for the company's support, despite the pressures of the current American economic climate.  "I'm blessed to be working for Popular Science and for this company," he said.

2008 Bonnier Sales Awards

*Winners marked with an asterisk

Rookie of the Year

*Linn Weilar, SF Media, Sweden

Brooke Dubrowsky, The Parenting Group, USA

Marc Macias, Transworld, USA

Sales Manager of the Year

*Jonas Irebjörk, TV4 Sverige, Sweden

Ann Sjöström, SF Media, Sweden

Mikael Solberg, Expressen, Sweden

Telephone Sales Representative of the Year

*Patrick Notaro, Popular Science, USA

Kenth Johansson, Vi I Villa, Sweden

Païvi Säkkinen Ljunggren, Stockholm City, Sweden

Field Sales Representative of the Year

*Juha Tuominen, MTV3, Finland

Mikaela Renvall, Bonnier Publications, Finland

Arild Lorenzen, Dagens Nyheter, Sweden

Wanda Andersson, Expressen, Sweden

Helene Grevelius, TV4, Sweden