Winner of EY entrepreneur of year title to be announced at Dublin event

Entrepreneurs from 24 companies are finalists for the title of EY Entrepreneur of the Year, the winner of which will be announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin this Thursday.

More than 1,400 business leaders and entrepreneurs are expected to attend the event, with one winner selected from each of the three categories – emerging, industry and international – as well as an overall winner.

The overall winner will represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Monte Carlo next June.

Selected by an independent judging panel of previous winners chaired by 2006 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, CPL Resources chief executive Anne Heraty, the 24 finalists represent a broad spectrum of sectors from technology, manufacturing and life sciences through to engineering, agriculture and health and beauty.

The finalists employ more than 5,000 people between them and generate annual revenues of €1.5 billion.

The finalists in the emerging category are: Dave O’Flanagan of Boxever; Catherine O’Neill of Amelio Group; Darragh Richardson of Agile Networks; Ben Harris of Drop; Alan Coleman of Brite:Bill; Morgan Browne of IIS Group; Brian Thornes of X-Bolt Orthopaedics; and Donald Fitzmaurice and Pádraig McBride of Brandtone.

The finalists in the industry category are: Michael O’Dwyer of TyreCheck; Paul Young, Nora Twomey and Tomm Moore of Cartoon Saloon; Terry Knox of CD Group; Jack Dobson of Dunbia; Eoin Goulding of Integrity 360; Seán Brett of Steeltech Sheds; Michael Hoyne of Merlyn Industries; and Kenneth Greene of Greene Farm Foods.

The finalists in the international category are: Frank Madden of Crest Solutions; Graham Stubbs of Diona; Denise Tormey of PlanNet21; Seán O'Sullivan of SOSVentures; Alan Clarke of StatSports; Alyson Hogg of Vita Liberata; Ross Kelly and Conor Crowley of Vizor; and Patrick and John Collison of Stripe.

Last year’s overall winner was Mark Roden of mobile payments firm Ding. Headquartered in Dublin, Ding enables migrant workers to support family back home by facilitating the instant transfer of credit top-up to any mobile phone anywhere in the world.

Elsewhere on Thursday, the CEO Forum is taking place in Dublin Castle. Under the theme of "leadership for growth", the event will include panel discussions and keynote speeches, with DCC chief executive Tommy Breen, Enterprise Ireland chief executive Julie Sinnamon, Avolon chief executive Dómhnal Slattery, Icon chief executive Ciaran Murray and Google senior executive Louise Morrissey.

More than 400 business leaders are expected to attend the event, which will also include a young person’s panel during which the panellists will give their perspective on their expectations from future employers.