Gillette’s Russia division received the American Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year award for the scale of its growth, visibility and penetration into the Russian market, according to AmCham.

Last year, the company opened a $40 million manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg and now employs 500 people in both production and commercial operations in Russia, according to Gillette.

Gillette officials said they regarded the award, a plaque and a wooden egg featuring the company’s slogans, as a significant accomplishment — one that particularly reflected the performance of their staff.

"[The] driving force behind the company’s success in Russia and worldwide is the achievements of its employees," said Pradeep Pant, general manager of Gillette Russia.

He added that the award will help Gillette Russia become one of the "preferred employers to attract, retain and motivate high-performance talent." Gillette has internship agreements with Moscow and St. Petersburg universities and employs five to eight young graduates a year, the company said.

According to Gillette, local nationals are encouraged to take on management positions — with 25 Russians currently being trained for such jobs, and foreigners accounting for only 2 percent of the staff.

In 2000, the company donated $100,000 to the University of St. Petersburg School of Management. This year, Gillette celebrates its 100th anniversary, and the timing of its Russian division’s award is that of a birthday present, HR Director Asad Husain said. "We believe in celebrating every success, big or small. We then work hard until it is time to celebrate again," he added.

The AmCham award was established in 1995, and since, seven companies have been awarded first prize, mostly Russian divisions of foreign firms. The organization’s awards committee reviews all nominations by member companies to define the winner. The committee members look into specific figures concerning investments into the development and social commitment of a company and study its business ethics.