Tony Fernandes is CNBC Asia's innovator of the year

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia's Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, has been honoured with the Innovator of the Year award at the CNBC 12th Asia Business Leaders Awards (ABLA) in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday night.

According to the CNBC website, the ABLA distinguishes and honours leaders who have contributed and shaped the Asian economy, and are visionaries behind today's outstanding businesses.

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes with his award. Photo taken from his Twitter post.

Fernandes, the AirAsia Group chief executive officer and Star Publications (M) Bhd independent non-executive director, was recently awarded the Honour of the Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, conferred on him for services to promote commercial and educational links between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

He was also named as one of the world's most creative people in business for 2011 by New York-based business magazine Fast Company, and awarded the inaugural Travel Business Leaders Award by CNBC.