13 new businesses awarded Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolade

Winner of Family Business Award - Denis McCarthy (Chairman, Fexco), Brian Murphy (Lead partner of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies awards programme, Deloitte)

13 new businesses have been awarded the Ireland’s Best Managed Companies (BMC) accolade at the 16^th annual awards programme. This year, Deloitte recognised 129 indigenous companies at the awards, representing 28 of the 32 counties across the island of Ireland. 

The network of companies has a combined turnover of more than €15 billion and provide employment to over 45,000 people across a range of sectors from technology and healthcare to construction. 

A thorough judging process precedes the recognition each year, evaluating the entire management team and the business strategy of each company. The judges examine a wide range of areas when assessing Ireland’s top privately-owned businesses, such as a business’ environmental, social and governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy.

The 13 newly qualified companies are: Active8 Solar Energies, Ashdale Care, Coen Steel Limited, Ethos Engineering, MCO, Mergon Group, Mivan, Mowlam Healthcare, S&W Wholesale, Sisk Group, United Hardware, Western Motors and Writech.  

New BMC winner: Michele McCormack (CEO at Mowlam Healthcare), Brian Murphy (Lead partner of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies awards programme, Deloitte)

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said: “The Irish economic growth story has been extraordinary, and we see this evidenced in the success of Irish indigenous businesses and the confidence shown by Best Managed Companies. Ensuring Ireland’s entrepreneurs and the companies they start get the support they need to grow and scale is crucial.”

Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets, said: “AIB is proud to be the new lead sponsors of Ireland’s Best Managed companies. One of AIB’s core ambitions is to support Irish companies and their management teams in sustainable growth and development, something which is fully aligned with the goals of the BMC programme.”

A total of 116 companies requalified as a Best Managed Company. 19 of these achieved Gold Standard (four years as a BMC) and 12 achieved Platinum Standard (seven years as a BMC). Fexco won the Family Business Award.

The members of this year’s judging panel were:

• Frank Ryan, former Chairman of the Board of IDA Ireland and Chair of BMC judging panel
• Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets
• Ellvena Graham OBE, Non-Executive Director & Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland
• Feargal Mooney, Non-Executive Director and former CEO of Hostelworld 
• Lionel Alexander, Chair Intact Software and Non-Executive Director
• Orla O’Gorman, Non-Executive Director and former Head of Listing at Euronext
• Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Business School
• Sarah Murphy, CEO of Business Post11

There are four different categories of Best Managed Companies award winners:

• New Winners: Companies that receive the award for the first time. These companies must go through a Phase I and Phase II Best Managed Companies Awards Programme application process.
• Gold Standard: Best Managed Companies that receive the award for the fourth year in a row. Companies applying for Gold Standard must satisfy the programme eligibility criteria and go through a requalification review process in order to ensure that the companies continue to uphold the Best Managed standard.                            
• Platinum Standard: Best Managed Companies that receive the award for the seventh year in a row. Companies applying for Platinum Standard must satisfy the programme eligibility criteria and go through a requalification review process in order to ensure that the companies continue to uphold the Best Managed standard.                            
• Re-qualifiers: Best Managed Companies, already in the programme that are not going for new, gold or platinum status. Companies applying for requalification must satisfy the programme eligibility criteria and go through a requalification review process in order to ensure that the companies continue to uphold the Best Managed standard.                           

The Family Business Award in association with the Family Business Network Ireland, is a separate individual award category. This award honours a family business within the network that has stood out in how they have demonstrated resilience throughout their years in business.

About the Best Managed Companies Awards

Ireland’s Best Managed Companies programme, run by Deloitte, promotes and recognises excellence in Irish/Northern Irish owned and managed companies. It is the only awards scheme on the island of Ireland that considers a business’ performance from every perspective. Entrants to the programme will compete for this designation in a rigorous process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.

Programme sponsors are AIB, the UCD Michael Smurfit Business School and the Business Post. For further information, visit www.deloittebestmanaged.ie.