Winners of the B&F US Business Awards announced in New York

The winners of the 3rd annual Business & Finance US Awards, in association with NYSE Euronext were honoured at a luncheon ceremony today at the NYSE Euronext headquarters on Wall Street. Over 300 business leaders representing some of the largest and best performing corporations in the US attended the event.

Speaking of the Awards Duncan Niederauer, CEO of NYSE Euronext said “We are honored to be hosting the 3rd annual Business & Finance US Awards luncheon. We value our relationship with Ireland and with Business & Finance. On behalf of the NYSE Euronext community, I’d like to congratulate all the recipients on their achievements and wish them continued success. These awards highlight the many achievements of successful Irish and US companies and this year more than ever it is vital that we recognize leadership and achievement in businesses.”

Irial Finan, Executive Vice President of the Coca- Cola Company and president of Bottling Investments and Supply Chain, received the award for International Business Person of the Year.  With a career spanning over 28 years with the Coca-Cola System, Finan is now responsible for managing a multi-billion dollar internal bottling operation in North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia – with revenues of $9 billion and employs in excess of 80,000 people. Additionally, he is responsible for stewarding the company’s equity investments and leading supply chain.

Speaking at the awards Finan said “I am both honored and humbled to receive the Business & Finance International Business Person award.   This award is special to me not only because of the connection to Coca-Cola but also to my home country, Ireland.  It is exciting to be part of an organization that recognizes Irish business leaders in the U.S. and their success and contributions to their respective industries."

Microsoft was awarded and acknowledged for the tremendous contribution the US corporation has made to Ireland, its economy and its society over the past 25 years. Ireland has been a major beneficiary of Microsoft’s leadership worldwide over the past two and a half decades. Microsoft first opened its doors in Ireland in 1985 with a small manufacturing facility employing just over 100 hundred people. Since that time, Microsoft Ireland has grown to encompass four distinct operations at its campus in Sandyford in Dublin, employing over 1,200 full time employees.

Lily o Briens were presented with the inaugural ‘International Enterprise of the Year’ award and acknowledged for the outstanding success and growth in the US market over the last few years. Founded in 1992 Lily O’Brien’s started life in Mary Ann O’Brien’s Kildare kitchen with little more than a saucepan, wooden spoon and genuine passion for chocolate and it is now a state-of-the-art factory in Newbridge, Ireland and employs over 100 people, manufactures between 55 and 60 tonnes of chocolates per week and exports to the US, Europe and New Zealand.

Other recognition awards received at the luncheon included an award to NYSE Technologies for their contribution to Northern Ireland.  The NYSE Technologies commercial expansion in Belfast signifies that Northern Ireland will be an important base for advancing the group’s global growth strategy. NYSE Technologies has outlined plans to create 400 jobs at a new development facility in Northern Ireland. The Belfast based facility is due to commence operations in 2010, creating significant technology, operational and corporate jobs over the coming years. Commenting on this venture Alastair Hamilton CEO Invest Northern Ireland said “We are delighted to honor NYSE Technologies today and support  the expansion of its business operations in Northern Ireland as it represents a significant positive step forward in the growth of our local financial services sector, particularly at a time when global competition for such investment has never been higher. This expansion is a major endorsement of our local ability, knowledge and infrastructure.”

Finally The Business & Finance Media Group also formally launched a campaign across the Global Irish Network (Ireland, Europe, Asia, US) for the 9/11 Memorial Foundation to raise awareness and funds.

Ian Hyland, president Business & Finance commented “Due to our recent success in Asia with the Asia Pacific Ireland Business Awards and our award and event programmes in the US and Europe, we are creating a really unique access network to some of the most influential Irish/Irish connected business leaders and corporations across the world. Business & Finance plans to now create a high profile campaign of activities for the Foundation which will give them greater scope Internationally on an ongoing basis”.

To find out more about this years event contact:
Tracy Mongan
Email: Tracy
Tel: +353 (0)1 416 7836
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