Deloitte has launched the 2024 Best Managed Companies Awards (BMC) and is calling for ambitious Irish and Northern Irish companies across all sectors to enter this year’s programme.
Now in its sixteenth year, the programme celebrates the hard work, innovation, and success of Irish businesses and their management teams. Ireland’s Best Managed Companies network currently comprises 130 companies from a variety of sectors, across the island. These businesses have a combined turnover of €17 billion and provide over 53,000 jobs across a range of sectors – from retail and hospitality to manufacturing and construction.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s programme Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for the Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme at Deloitte said: “Now in its 16th iteration, I am delighted to see Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards programme continue to go from strength to strength. The programme provides a platform for Irish indigenous businesses to celebrate their successes and inspire innovation and growth. The Best Managed Companies network enables long-standing members and new entrants, to challenge and benchmark themselves against the best in business across Ireland.
Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Cathy Bryce, Managing Director of AIB Capital Markets, Brian Murphy, Lead Partner, Ireland’s Best Managed Companies, Deloitte, and Colin Hunt, CEO of AIB, at the launch of the 2024 Ireland’s Best Managed Companies programme in No.25, Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2. PHOTO: Mark Stedman
“With continued advancements in AI and regulation, challenges retaining talent and the growing importance of ESG, companies can maximise the programme to navigate this ever-changing landscape. Deloitte is pleased to support the network with coaching to ensure companies maintain a competitive advantage. We have seen first-hand the positive impact the Best Managed Companies accolade has had on businesses, from Antrim to Cork. We encourage ambitious companies, with strong culture and governance, to apply to the programme today.”
Deloitte is pleased to welcome AIB as a new sponsor of the awards programme.
Attending this year’s launch, Colin Hunt, Chief Executive Officer, AIB said: “We at AIB are delighted to be the lead sponsor of the Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme. Our people make our organisation in AIB, and the same can be said for the thousands of enterprises across Ireland. This programme celebrates the innovation and commitment inherent in Irish businesses the length and breadth of the country, and we look forward to playing our part in showcasing those companies.”
The application process provides participating companies with the opportunity to analyse their entire business, including performance, management practices and goals, which is a vital exercise for any company.
Last year’s programme saw eight newly qualified companies including APC Therapeutics (Dublin), Codex (Dublin), JJ Rhatigan & Company (Galway), Kyte Powertech (Cavan), Lowe Corporation (Antrim), Mail Metrics (Dublin), Production Equipment Europe (Galway), and Topflight Travel Group (Dublin).
Speaking to his experience as a new winner of the 2023 Best Managed Cohort, Mark Barrett, CEO & Co-Founder, APC Therapeutics said: “The BMC award gave us added confidence in the robustness of APC & VLE’s processes, enabling us to successfully launch a €100m expansion which will double our staff to 600. The Medicine Accelerator Campus stands as one of the most disruptive sites in pharmaceutical development, digitalization, and manufacturing. It will revolutionize medicine development, ultimately reducing the time it takes to deliver new and advanced therapeutics to patients.”
Alongside introducing a new sponsor and academic partner, the programme also brings on board a number of new names to its independent, multi-disciplinary judging panel, including; Cathy Bryce (Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets), Professor Anthony Brabazon, (Dean, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School) and Orla O’Gorman (NED & former Head of Listing, Euronext).
The new additions will join chair Frank Ryan (Chair of IDA board), Ellvena Graham OBE (Chair of Tourism NI), Lionel Alexander (Chair of Intact Software), Feargal Mooney (formerly Hostelworld), and Sarah Murphy (CEO, Business Post).
For further information and details on how to enter the awards, visit www.deloitte.ie/bestmanaged. The closing date for Phase 1 entries is Friday, 23rd of February. Companies that progress to Phase 2 of the application process will be notified in March, with the winners to be officially announced at the annual Gala Awards September 2024.
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