Businessman Liam Casey, founder of supply chain management company PCH International, has won the top prize in the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition.
Mr Casey (41) was named overall Entrepreneur of the Year at a ceremony in Dublin after he won the international category of the competition.
From Donoughmore, Co Cork, he is the 10th winner of the annual competition, which is held in association with The Irish Times. He will represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year competition in Monte Carlo in June 2008.
Founded in Cork in 1996 and now based in Shenzhen, China, PCH International acts as a gateway into the Chinese markets for US multinational groups in the consumer electronics, high-tech and medical sectors. The company employs 800 people in Ireland, China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, the US, Brazil, Britain and South Africa.
With annual sales of $117 million (€81.72 million), the company's clients include leading international groups in the personal computer, telecoms, networking, consumer electronics, and contract electronics sectors.
Known as "Mr China" in business circles, he does not see himself as an entrepreneur and says the expression is but a "fancy name" for somebody who gets things done.
"In Ireland we are as a nation extremely competitive. If we take that factor and apply it as a team, we can win," Mr Casey said last night.
He thanked his staff for their contribution to the company and the support of their families.
Michael Taggart of development group Taggart Holdings won the industry award and Oliver Tattan of health insurer Vivas won the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year category.
Taggart Holdings was established in 1989 by Michael Taggart and his brother John. The business built houses in the North before embarking on property development in the Republic, Britain, eastern Europe and the US. An employer of 320 people, the group saw its turnover rise by 134 per cent last year to €164 million, while its operating profits rose 103 per cent to more than €36 million.
"It's an absolute honour and pleasure to have received this award. I'd like to thank everybody in our business and my brother John," said Mr Taggart.
Backed by AIB and businessman Dermot Desmond, Vivas entered the health insurance market in 2004. With 110 employees and an annual turnover "run-rate" of €100 million, the company is the largest insurer of previously uninsured people.
"It's a great honour for me and Vivas Health to receive this award," said Mr Tattan.
Retired civil servant Pádraig Ó hUiginn, former secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach and a confidant of the late Charles Haughey, received a special award for Social Entrepreneur of the Year for his "entrepreneurial vision and drive within government". The award recognised his role in the establishment of the International Financial Services Centre and in the creation of social partnership.
Mr Ó hUiginn said there was "a great accumulation of patriotism" in 1987 on the part of all the social partners and an acknowledgment that they couldn't let "ancient Ireland, which had struggled so much", become bankrupt.
The awards were presented by Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin, who saluted the commitment to corporate social responsibility in this year's programme. He paid tribute to the winners and said the competition was important as an affirmation and celebration of positive achievement in Irish business.
Enda Kelly, the Ernst & Young partner in charge of the competition programme, said PCH International had generated creative but simple solutions to highly complex supply chain problems encountered by global organisations.
"Liam Casey encompasses the qualities we are looking for in today's entrepreneur," Mr Kelly said.
"The enterprise culture in Ireland remains strong and there is a positive predisposition towards entrepreneurship.
"The programme continues to help acclaim entrepreneurs and provide valuable role models for existing and future business innovators.
"With over 40 countries involved, it opens channels of a unique nature for Irish business participants."
Businessman Denis O'Brien, a former winner of the award and chairman of the judging panel, said he was highly impressed with the calibre of all 24 contenders. "The winner is doubly to be congratulated for beating off such strong opposition," Mr O'Brien said.
"The company has only been in existence for 11 years and has offered the current suite of supply chain solutions for just three years. To be able to convince multinationals to choose them is no mean feat."
Awards sponsor Ulster Bank said each of the finalists in the programme had shown what could be achieved with focus, perseverance and support. "I would particularly like to congratulate Liam Casey," said Robert Gallagher, chief of Ulster Bank corporate markets.
Each of the nine previous winners of the competition attended the awards ceremony last night.
In addition to Mr O'Brien, these included: Riverdance founder Moya Doherty of Abhann Productions; Eddie Jordan of Jordan Grand Prix; Martin McVicar of CombiLift; Pádraig Ó Céidigh of Aer Arann; Liam Shanahan of Shanahan Engineering; Dr Peter Fitzgerald of Randox Laboratories; Aidan Heavey of Tullow Oil; and Anne Heraty of CPL Resources, winner of the competition last year.
Overall winner
Liam Casey
International category winner
PCH International
Founded in Cork in 1996 PCH International is a world class supply chain management company focused in the consumer electronics, high-tech and medical sectors. Its customers are mainly multinationals based in North America. Among its clients are three of the top five personal computer companies, three of the top five telecom and networking companies and the top five leading contract electronics manufacturers.
Industry category winner
Michael Taggart of Taggart Holdings
Founded in 1989 by brothers John and Michael Taggart, Taggart Holdings has grown from a Northern Irish-based house builder to a vibrant and dynamic international property development company, with offices in Ireland, UK, Eastern Europe and the USA.
Their current property portfolio includes both residential and commercial properties in Ireland, UK, mainland Europe, New Zealand and Eastern Europe, with a combined land bank valued in excess of £500 million.
Emerging category winner
Oliver Tatten, Vivas Health
VIVAS Health entered the health insurance market in 2004, at a time of little choice or innovation among providers, and quickly established itself as a company offering policies which were flexible, practical and tailored to the needs of the individual or the company.
The company has seen enormous growth since its launch, with a turnover run rate of €100m per annum, and is the largest insurer of previously uninsured people
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/VR3765MFOBH2NMV2QNICYDF67M.png)