LutherRose 2020 presented to Tandean Rustandy in Bologna
With Tandean Rustandy, the International Martin Luther Foundation (IMLS), based in Eisenach, Germany, honoured "a personality who has used the Reformation tradition of freedom and responsibility for the common good in an exemplary way with his life and professional work".
With his company PT Arwana Citramulia Tbk, the largest manufacturer of ceramic tiles in Indonesia, Rustandy is committed to environmental protection and social justice in his home country. In a predominantly Muslim country, Rustandy professes Christianity and is a member of the Reformed Evangelical Church in Jakarta. His business philosophy is based on the theological principles of Martin Luther and John Calvin.
Prof. Dr. Herman J. Selderhuis, Rector of the Theological University of Apeldoorn and board member of the International Martin Luther Foundation, paid tribute to the laureate in his laudation: “Tandean Rustandy symbolizes in a unique way Martin Luther’s stand on the economic and social responsibility of a Christian living from God's grace. The fact that an Indonesian businessman receives the Luther rose demonstrates the global and lasting significance of Luther's theology.”
Tandean Rustandy expressed his gratitude for the award by saying, “God the creator come to serve, then our purpose of life is to serve and sacrifice”. The award ceremony in Bologna was also attended by a delegation from Indonesia in honor of Rustandy.
Tandean Rustandy studied at the University of Colorado in Boulder, USA, and received his bachelor's degree in 1987. At the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, he earned his Master of Business Administration. Afterwards, Rustandy returned to his home country Indonesia to work in the timber industry.
In 1993 Rustandy founded PT Arwana Citramulia Tbk, a company for the production anddistribution of ceramic tiles. He developed the company into one of the most efficient on the Indonesian building materials market and one of the most important ceramic producers worldwide. Today the company employs around 3,000 people.
Rustandy's entrepreneurial activities are strongly influenced by issues of environmental protection and social justice, and have received numerous awards, including ‘Honorary Citizen of Boulder, Colorado’ (1987), ‘Indonesia’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ (2002) from Ernst & Young, ‘Distinguished Entrepreneurial Alumni Award’ (2011) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, ‘Distinguished Alumni Service Award’ (2014) from the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, the Third Best CEO in a poll conducted by FinanceAsia in 2014, Outstanding Alumni Sustainability Awards from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017, and Influential Leader by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business in 2019.
Rustandy’s thorough approach to entrepreneurship and management excellence has brought PT Arwana Citramulia Tbk to become a leading ceramic tiles manufacturer in Indonesia and one of the world’s top producers, as well as having numerous awards under the company’s name. The company has received various prestigious recognitions from private as well as governmental institutions for its achievements, including ‘Best of the Best’ from Forbes Indonesia in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015; ‘Best Under A Billion’ from Forbes Asia in 2006 and 2014; ‘Best Stock Issuer with Market Capitalization of up to IDR10 Trillion’ at the Indonesian Capital Market Awards 2014 by the Indonesian Stock Exchange; ‘Best Managed Company’ and ‘Most Committed to Paying Good Dividends’ from FinanceAsia in 2014 and 2015; the Green Industry Award from the Indonesian Government for eight consecutive years from 2011-2018; and ‘Top Performing Listed Companies 2019’ from Investor Magazine.
