He retired as CEO of Reckitt Benckiser on 31 August 2011, and was replaced by Rakesh Kapoor.
Prof Edwin Dawes, Reckitt Professor of Biochemistry from 1963-90 at the University of Hull (Head of Biochemistry from 1963–86), Editor from 1976–81 of the Journal of General Microbiology and from 1958-65 of the Biochemical Journal, and Chairman since 1995 of the Philip Larkin Society
The awards were co-founded by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) and soap powder manufacturer Reckitt & Colman, with the awards named after Reckitt & Colman's anti-dandruff shampoo, Loxene.