[via Deloitte]

The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 program covers public and private companies across EMEA, and is based on five-year average percentage revenue growth. The awards are researched and sponsored by the Deloitte Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Industry Group. Key trends observed in this year’s rankings were:

• Total five-year revenue for the 500 ranked companies as a whole grew by an average of 935%, down 308% from last year;
• Software firms have increased their dominance of the ranking, making up 47% of all listed firms;
• Communications and networking firms are generally better represented than last year, at 16% of all listed firms;
• Northern Europe and Eastern Europe have increased their share of ranked firms this year, with 25% (up 8%) and 7% (up 3%), respectively;
• Number one ranked Norwegian broadband provider Catch Communications ASA achieves average five-year revenue growth of 77,682%.

Deloitte today published a survey of the Fast 500 CEOs in EMEA. Highlights of the survey include:

• Confidence in sustaining future growth has reached an all time high in the region, with 82% of CEOs either extremely or very confident that their company will sustain its growth over the next year;
• 66% of CEOs agreed that the quality of employees is the key to successful growth, and recruitment and personnel development are the key operational and personal challenges of CEOs. This is also true in Asia Pacific and North America this year;
• 62% of firms offer flexible working hours (far higher than in any other global region) and 46% offer a stake in the company like stock options to enhance motivation;
• 42% of CEOs see over 50% of their planned business revenues coming via IP-based applications. 16% expect between 30% and 50% of revenues to come from IP;
• CEOs see the greatest potential for growth over the next three years in Internet and IP-related segments.