Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders (left) accepts the 2014 Atlantic Council Distinguished Business Leadership Award from former Alabama Governor Bob Riley. Photo source: Atlantic Council

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders (left) accepts the 2014 Atlantic Council Distinguished Business Leadership Award from former Alabama Governor Bob Riley. Photo source: Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council, a key U.S. think tank on transatlantic relations, honored Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders with the 2014 Distinguished Business Leadership Award at its Annual Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

The Atlantic Council praised Enders as a “visionary global business leader and passionate Atlanticist”, who is providing “important thought leadership on the future of Europe, on Germany and its place in the world, and on the centrality of transatlantic cooperation on security and defense to a more peaceful world.”

At the banquet, attended by some 800 guests from over 60 countries, Enders was one of five honorees, including European Commission President José Manuel Barroso (Distinguished International Leadership Award), U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (Distinguished International Leadership Award), U.S. Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford (Distinguished Military Leadership Award), who accepted the military award on behalf of the men and women of ISAF and Ruslana Lyzhychko (Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award), a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament.

At the ceremony, Enders said: "I am very honored to receive this prestigious award on behalf of my company, the Airbus Group, and our 144,000 employees who connect and protect people all over the world day in and day out."

The ceremony followed a speech earlier in the day at the Atlantic Council on the need to further government and industrial relationships on both sides of the Atlantic. Enders highlighted opportunities to be more efficient and more effective when it comes to spending taxpayers’ money, strengthening trade and enhancing defense capabilities. Stressing the urgency of the situation, he said: "It's time for more, not less transatlantic cooperation. We have to strengthen the economic fundamentals of our alliance, which is where the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership could make a huge difference. And, in days where military power continues to be an essential factor in international relations, we must also strengthen our security and defense posture. We in industry stand ready to contribute to our nations' security and we are proud to do so."

A transcript of the speech will be available at www.AtlanticCouncil.org.

About Airbus Group

Airbus Group is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2013, the Group – comprising Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters – generated revenues of € 59.3 billion and employed a workforce of around 144,000.