13 new businesses awarded Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolade

20 September 2024. 13 new businesses have been awarded the Ireland’s Best Managed Companies (BMC) accolade at the 16th 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.   

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said:

Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets, said:

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 Post

New Winners
 

The Gold Standard (four years as a Best Managed Company) winners are:

The Platinum Winners (seven years as a Best Managed Company) are:

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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.

International History of Best Managed Companies Programme

The Best Managed Companies Programme originated in Canada in 1993, where it has been run successfully ever since and is the country’s leading business awards programme. In addition to Ireland and Canada, the programme is currently run in over 40 countries including China, The US, Southeast Asia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Türkiye, Mexico and Chile.

About AIB

AIB Group operates predominantly in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Our shares are quoted on the Irish and London stock exchanges and we are a member of the FTSE4Good Index.  Our brands include AIB, EBS, Haven, Payzone, Goodbody and our joint venutes AIB Merchant Services, Nifti and AIB life. 

Whether it is navigating day-to-day life as we adapt to a greener way of living, planning for the future or growing a business, our ambition as a Group is to be at the heart of our customers’ financial lives.