Award-winning mine clearance firm BACTEC International has notched up another accolade, this time for its managing director.

Kevin Kneebone was highly commended in the 2011 Institute of Directors Director of the Year Awards.

He was named in the Global Director of the Year category. It is the second IoD honour for Mr Kneebone, who has previously won a regional Director of the Year award for a business with a turnover of between £5m and £25m.

He has an engineering background and joined BACTEC, based at Medway City Estate, in 2003.

The company specialises in unexploded ordnance and landmine clearance around the world. It operates in 45 countries and employs up to 1,000 people worldwide.

Mr Kneebone has helped move BACTEC on from a typical owner-managed business - it was founded in 1991 by ex Royal Engineer Major Guy Lucas and his wife Joanna - to a more formal company run by a board of directors.

"I was delighted to have been nominated for the International Director category and being the winner in the regional finals," he said.

"Whilst I am disappointed not to win the national award, testament to the high quality of the other finalists, being highly commended is very satisfying and is a reflection not only of my personal success but that of BACTEC and the whole team."

Rodger Broad, IoD director for London and the South, said: "Kevin fully deserves his recognition in the national awards. He is one of many highly talented and committed directors around the region who are working hard to drive their companies forward in difficult times."