By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): Ian Hyland -President and Publisher of Business & Finance, Enda Kenny -Former Taoiseach, Catherine Day – Former Secretary-General of the European Commission and Ian Nelson – Head of Financial Services for KPMG with the Pádraig Ó hUiginn Outstanding Contribution to Financial Services Award.
Catherine Day received the Pádraig Ó hUiginn Award at the 2023 Business & Finance FS Awards, in association with KPMG
Financial leaders and business experts from across a multitude of disciplines attended the second annual Financial Services (FS) Awards yesterday, 26th October, in the Round Room at Dublin’s Mansion House.
Attendees gathered to acknowledge high standards within the financial services sector. The event emphasised the contributions of leading figures in the field and the significant advancements achieved in its reformation.
Tracey Carney, Managing Director of Business & Finance, part of the Catalyst Media Group, and Sarah Freeman, Managing Editor of Business & Finance, spoke to attendees in an opening address.
“Throughout the entire awards process, we’ve seen the importance of excellence in customer service, diversity of teams and the extent of innovation that has taken place across the entire Financial Services industry,” Freeman said.
“I would personally like to welcome KPMG, our headline partner for today’s Awards,” Carney added.
She continued: “KPMG have supported this awards program from inception, and it is wonderful to see the growth and impact the awards have had over the last 2 years. We worked closely with KPMG establishing this programme to recognise and reward excellence in the industry.”
Ian Nelson
Ian Nelson, Head of Financial Services, KPMG, spoke briefly to attendees.
He said KPMG is “delighted, once again, to sponsor today’s lunch,” as the advisory services firm has done in the past. He acknowledged the firm’s continued strong relationship with Business & Finance, who he noted is “very supportive of […] efforts to further the FS agenda.”
Business for Good
Peter Power, Executive Director of Unicef Ireland, Business & Finance’s ‘Business for Good’ partner, was invited to the stage by Tracey Carney, who read from a recent Unicef newsletter: “Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, Unicef is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, Unicef is never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.”
Power opened by thanking Business & Finance for its partnership with Unicef: “Over the last number of years, Business & Finance has been at the forefront of promoting business for good, strong CSR and more laterally ESG strategies for the corporate sector here.”
He continued: “Some of the companies indeed in this room are fantastic supporters of Unicef and our humanitarian mission to children right around the world and we really appreciate your support.”
Pádraig Ó hUiginn Outstanding Contribution to Financial Services Award, sponsored by KPMG
Photographed at FS Awards 2023: Catherine Day – Former Secretary-General of the European Commission, with the Pádraig Ó hUiginn Outstanding Contribution to Financial Services Award.
The Padraig Ó hUiginn award recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to Financial Services, named after the late former Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach who was a driving force in the creation of the IFSC.
Ian Hyland, President and Publisher of Business & Finance, invited former Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the stage to introduce this year’s recipient: Catherine Day, former Secretary General of the European Commission.
“I don’t get many opportunities to speak these days, and my train is not until 6 o’clock,” the former Taoiseach joked.
He praised Day for her work as Secretary General of the European Commission under José Manuel Barroso: “She was at all of those meetings,” he said, “and she was the embodiment of professionalism, of courtesy, of experience, of understanding, of the taking of notes of very diverse issues from different Prime Ministers in a way that were authentic and accurate […] She was absolutely superb.”
Day was invited to accept the award. She said she was “very honoured” to receive it “because, even in Brussels, civil servants don’t generally seek the limelight.”
“In fact,” she says, “we’re always looking for the cameras to make sure we’re out of shot, not in shot. So it’s particularly lovely to be recognised here today.”
She continued: “I’m really delighted that members of the Ó hUiginn family are here because if ever I get a chance to set up a fantasy dinner party, I would like to sit beside Pádraig Ó hUiginn and just have a heart-to-heart with him about the ups and downs of being the Secretary General.”
Senior Civil servant, Padraig Ó hUiginn, had a fifty-year career in the Civil Service before retiring in 1993.
He entered the civil service in 1941 and served for over fifty years where he was innovative in his endeavours to progress social and economical change and to capture and utilise opportunities for the benefit of all. His name is synonymous with the creation and driving high profile initiatives such as the IFSC, Temple Bar, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), but he is perhaps best remembered for his role as Secretary General of the Department of The Taoiseach, a position he held from 1982-1993.
Winners
Photographed at FS Awards 2023: Eddie Kearney and Karen Hackett from PTSB collecting the Grand Prix Award presented by Ian Nelson from KPMG.
Banking service PTSB won the Innovative Banking Product Award for effectively demonstrating innovative concepts and the positive impact their initiatives have had on customers. Their Online Mortgage Portal has transformed the mortgage application process with digitisation, security, paperless document exchange and efficiency.
PTSB also won the Grand Prix Award, a special commendation for outstanding excellence. This prestigious award goes to the company, project or initiative that received the highest average mark from the judging panel.
An Post won the FS Challenger Award. Judges said An Post’s services and current strategic direction unquestionably place them in a league of excellence within the challenger category, which makes them the unequivocal choice as prestigious winners. Their digital first solutions resulted in substantial customer recruitment, increased emotional affinity and a doubling of their credit card book.
Fund Management Company of the Year went to Zurich, whose track record of innovation, expertise, and client-centric approach exemplifies excellence in the field. They simplify complexity with clever solutions for customers and their macro-economic analysis, asset allocation and alignment between market views and investment positions, has yielded consistent outperformance.
The Customer Experience Award was awarded to AXA Ireland, whose success is due to the collective vision and consolidated approach they show across all areas of the business. They have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to elevating the customer experience within a domain often characterised by complex and multifaceted financial products. Their customer-centric culture starts with the company mission which asks staff to champion and deliver to their customers.
Photographed at FS Awards 2023: All the winners of the day.
The Sustainable Finance Award, sponsored by Maples Group, was presented to CleverCards. The group was noted for their dedication to sustainable finance and innovative solutions that have made them leaders in promoting eco-friendly and socially responsible financial practices. Their downloadable Digital Mastercard configured as an Energy Card, allows those in need to access energy subsidies swiftly and sustainably. The transition from traditional payment methods to streamlined digital approach has yielded significant advantages, reducing administrative burdens and saving valuable time and money for organisations.
Revolut won the International Finance Award for a ground-breaking approach to international finance, driven by innovation and a steadfast commitment to customer-centric solutions, which has set them apart. Their platform’s offering includes cost-effective international transfers, multi-currency accounts, virtual cards and team spending management.
The Specialist Lender Award went to Capitalflow. Judges said Capitalflow’s submission stands out for their pivotal role in providing essential financial solutions to rural and underserved communities that are often overlooked by traditional lenders. Capitalflow’s positive impact on these communities showcases their outstanding contributions to the financial services industry, making them a deserving recipient of this award.
For a full list of winners, please refer to the FS Awards website.
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