The awards – held in Yorkshire by the Institute of Directors for the first time – celebrate the achievements of business leaders working across a range of sectors.
More than 400 guests saw Richard Mantle, director of Leeds-based Opera North, walked away with the coveted title of Yorkshire & Humber Director of the Year 2005.
Mr Mantle is currently leading one of the region's most ambitious fundraising programmes. It will result in the creation of a new home for Opera North, a refurbished Leeds Grand Theatre, and the restoration of the Assembly Rooms as a new facility for Opera North.
Winner of the Judges' Special Award was Deirdre Bounds, director of specialist travel company i-to-i.
The business – which began life in a bedsit – has grown into an international organisation with a turnover of more than £6m.
Based in Horsforth, Leeds, the company provides unique travel and work experiences to people of all ages, with ventures ranging from rescuing turtles in Costa Rica to helping street children in Nepal.
Other winners at the event included were Mike Logue, director of York-based Gamestation, who was named Young Director of the Year,.
Financial and Legal Director of the Year went to Sean Hicks of Smart & Cook Consulting, Leeds.
Property Director of the Year was won by Doncaster-based Strata Group, Doncaster, and Technology and New Media Director of the Year went to Stephen Jagger, of Calrec Audio based in Hebden Bridge.
Manufacturing Director of the Year was awarded to Brian Davidson of Scarborough-based Plaxton, and Zulfi Hussain of Leeds-based Global Promise won Voluntary Sector Director of the Year.
kathryn.moore@ypn.co.uk