By Business & Finance 
Kofi Annan (former secretary general, United Nations), Ian Hyland (president, Business & Finance) and Mary Robinson (Outstanding Contribution to Ireland recipient)
Former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Ireland Award by former UN Secretary General and High Commissioner for Refugees, Kofi Annan at the Business & Finance Awards at The Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday, December 17th 2015.
Sponsored by KPMG, the Business & Finance Awards programme has recognised some of Ireland’s most significant business success stories.
Established in 1974, it has become the longest running and most coveted business awards programme in Ireland and on December 17th, in front of over 1,200 guests, the awards paid tribute to some of Ireland’s most outstanding leaders.
Previous recipients of the Outstanding Contribution Award to Ireland include business, political and social leaders such as President Clinton, Rt Hon Sir John Major and Albert Reynolds, Senator George Mitchell, President Mary and Senator Martin McAleese, Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Michael Bloomberg.
This year’s awards also recognised the 100 FDI companies for their continued investment across the island of Ireland over the last 60 years. Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, presented the FDI of the Year Award to Intel Ireland in addition to presenting Microsoft with a Special Recognition Award for their investment in Ireland over 30 years.
Other award recipients on the night included: Tommy Breen, CEO, DCC as Business Person of the Year; and Kerry Group, this years winner of the Company of the Year Award.
Speaking at the event, Ian Hyland, president, Business & Finance, highlighted the importance of celebrating the achievements of Ireland’s leading innovators.
“Here in Ireland, we are cultivating an ethos of competitive and sustainable enterprise that is driving outward growth of domestic Irish companies such as PCH, Trustev, Glo Health, and indeed VoxPro who continue to expand internationally,” he said. “This year it gives me an enormous sense of pride to see former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan present former President of Ireland Mary Robinson with the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Ireland Award.”
He continued: “The Business & Finance Awards celebrate many things, but above all they celebrate great Irish leadership. To all of the companies and individuals represented at these awards, our sincere congratulations.”
