Cork Company of the Year @ 25: Insights into award winners
Cork Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 25 Years of Cork Company of the Year. Here are the stories of the annual winners of the top award over the past quarter of a century.
Winners of the annual Cork Company of the Year awards have invariably described the honour as a career highlight.
Ever since Cork Chamber of Commerce launched the awards in 1998, the public awareness and appreciation of the awards has grown every year, and the prestige for the winners has grown accordingly.
While there are numerous categories each year, this reflection focuses solely on the winners of the overall prize each year. Some companies have won the prestigious top prize more than once.
Some of the winning companies have since changed ownership, some have changed their trading names and many have seen the nature and focus of their business change significantly. Certainly many of the leading executives in these companies have changed seats.
To capture a sense of the importance of winning the top prize, some — but not all — of the following profiles contain comments from the people who were leading these companies at the time they won the awards. We also try to give a sense of how the companies have evolved over a quarter of a century of trading.
Musgrave is Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company.
Together with its retail partners, Musgrave is Ireland’s largest private sector employer, supporting more than 41,000 jobs in over 1,000 stores and offices. It is proud to be one of Europe’s largest and most successful family-owned businesses with a 146-year heritage in food and brand innovation.
Musgrave supports thousands of retail and foodservice family businesses.
Every day, Musgrave feeds one in three people in Ireland through 14 market-leading brands that include:
- SuperValu
- Centra
- Daybreak
- Mace
- Donnybrook
- Fair
- Dialprix
- Musgrave
- MarketPlace
- Dialsur
- La Rousse Foods
- Frank and Honest Drinks Inc.
- Italicatessen
- Ritter Courivaud
- Town & Country
- Italicatessen
- Ritter Courivaud
- Town & Country Fine Foods Ltd
“Family is at the heart of our business,” the company states. “Not only are we a family business with the values that come with it, but we also support thousands of independent family-run businesses across the island of Ireland and Spain.
“Being family-run allows us to take a long-term view of our business; our purpose of Growing Good Business is about being a sustainable, profitable business that benefits our shareholders, our people, partners, suppliers, communities, and the wider economy. Our purpose is underpinned by their values that are about honesty, working hard, achievement, long-term stable relationships and not being greedy.”
Musgrave’s brands are successful because they meet the changing needs of today’s shoppers and are developed in collaboration with outstanding local entrepreneurs.
Musgrave’s retail partners have a deep knowledge and commitment to their local communities.
“Our business is about working with our retail partners to create world-class stores, outstanding customer focussed food and drink experiences,” the company states.
“Our sustainability strategy, Protecting the Planet and Benefitting our communities, is about reducing our emissions to reach net zero carbon by 2040, working with our retail partners to make every community a sustainable community, and collaborating with suppliers to provide consumers with more sustainable choices,” the company states.
“We have been doing sustainability for decades and this is evidence in our purpose: ‘Growing Good Business’, which means creating a sustainable, profitable business that benefits our shareholders, our people, partners, local communities, and the wider local economy.” Musgrave set out to achieve a 12% carbon reduction by end of 2023. Centra & SuperValu retailers have achieved an overall 9% carbon reduction in stores across the country, a year on from the launch of the Musgrave Sustainability Fund.
By the end of 2023, over 26,500 panels will be installed across 63 SuperValu and 36 Centra stores generating the equivalent amount of electricity to power almost 3,500 homes entirely for a year. More than 90 SuperValu stores will have solar panels by the end of 2025.
Musgrave was recently renamed as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champion by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan for the 2023-2024 period. Musgrave was the first retailer to be named an SDG Champion in 2019.
Our stores are rooted in communities across the island of Ireland. As a single force for good each store offers local employment, livelihood of families, and each retailer is committed to supporting vibrant communities through community work, charitable sponsorships and volunteering. SuperValu is a proud sponsor of TidyTowns for 33 years, one of Ireland’s longest running sponsorships as well as a sponsor of GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for 14 years. Centra is a proud partner of the Irish Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Awareness for 13 years.
Chris Kay Ltd, based in Kinsale, became a world leader in ‘flock’ crest transfers.
Having employed 130 in Cork and a further 100 in four overseas sales and manufacturing offices, the company that supplied crests to the national rugby team and 16 of the Premiership soccer clubs was subsequently acquired by US multinational Illinois Tool Works.
Other clients included Real Madrid, as well as top Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and Ajax Amsterdam, in addition to the FAI and several GAA club teams.
The company also made crests for sportswear groups such as Adidas.
In addition to its plant in Kinsale, Co Cork, Chris Kay had a manufacturing site based in China, supplying local markets.
Since its foundation in 1982, it sold its products worldwide into the clothing market, and won a contract from the Premiership in 1993 to provide it with the numbering system that it designed in-house in Cork.
The company hit the international headlines when it was given just one day’s notice to produce the number 23 for David Beckham’s Real Madrid shirt.
When the former Manchester United player made his multi-million-pound sporting move to the Spanish club, the Kinsale-based company were also able to cash in on the Beckham mania created by having secured the contract to supply the shirt numbers and logos for the Spanish giants newly designed kit.
Project management firm PM Group reported an operating profit of €44m for 2022, with its overall revenue of €612m up 29% on 2021.
The growth in revenue was largely achieved following significant international expansion and investment in digital infrastructure against a backdrop of increased costs and inflation. The company undertakes projects in a range of areas including the pharmaceutical, food, mission-critical, med-tech and advanced manufacturing technology sectors.
“The first quarter of 2023 saw a lot of the momentum we had built during 2022 sustained, however, the external environment is undoubtedly more challenging,” Dave Murphy, CEO of PM Group said. “With issues such as higher interest rates and high inflation, we have seen more caution. However, many of our multinational clients continue to invest in major capital projects across key markets,” he added.
PM Group has grown its international presence with expansion in Europe and the US in the recent years. It employs 3,500 people across Europe, North America and Asia, with approximately a third of its workforce being employee shareholders of the business.
In the USA, PM Group continued to grow. In 2022, it widened its business portfolio and completed projects for Bayer, Thermo Fisher, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Biomarin, Resilience and EMD Serono. Following the opening of the Group’s fourth US office in Philadelphia in 2021, a planned new office will open in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina in July 2023 providing a fifth USA location.
“2022 saw increased investment by our clients and over 50% of our work is now international,” Mr Murphy said. “While Europe continues to be a key market for us with 28% of overall activity located there, we have further increased our USA presence through the expansion of our Philadelphia office, to support the growth and opportunities we have seen there. We’ve also recently announced that we will open an office in North Carolina. The Research Triangle Region of North Carolina is a major hub for life sciences research, innovation and technology. This will be our 5th office in the USA.”
Earlier in 2023, PM Group agreed to buy Cork-anchored Milestone Solutions in a move it said would significantly expand its automation and IT offering to multinational clients. Milestone reported revenue of €18 million last year and forecasts revenue of about €25 million this year.
In a statement, PM Group said the ‘strategic acquisition’ would enhance its ability to deliver automated and smart manufacturing systems to its industrial and biopharma clients, which have included the likes of MSD, Pfizer and Alexion. Both companies already share a number of those clients and have previously partnered on large projects.
“We launched a new strategic plan at the beginning of 2021, a five-year plan for 2025. We specifically identified the whole area of smart manufacturing and industry 4.0 as a growth area that we had some capabilities in but we want to grow that,” concluded the CEO.
In April 2023, PM Group announced the appointment of Anthony O’Rourke as chief executive officer designate. He will succeed current CEO Dave Murphy, when he retires from PM Group in December 2023.
The story of the Irish Examiner and Thomas Crosbie Holdings began in the 19th century, when John Francis Maguire began publishing a thrice-weekly evening newspaper called the Cork Examiner.
The first issue was dated August 30, 1841, and subsequently became a morning paper, printed six days a week, in 1858. At the time of the newspaper’s launch, local news was dominated by the Cork Constitution, which catered to Anglo-Irish landowners.
The new paper set out to be the voice of the common people, and Maguire later represented local districts in the House of Commons. While the Examiner was initially focused on the local community, its location near one of the first ports of call for transatlantic ships gave it an advantage over European papers in gaining eagerly sought news from abroad.
After the arrival of the telegraph, the Examiner set up a branch in London. The paper’s location gave it a unique perspective on one major historical event. An Examiner photographer, Tom Barker, was the last to take pictures on the deck of the Titanic before its final voyage in 1912.
Thomas Crosbie became the paper’s owner after the death of John F. Maguire in 1872. He had begun working for the Examiner in 1842 at age 15 and had progressed up the ranks to editor.
Thomas Crosbie died in 1899, leaving business to his son George. By this time, the firm was known as Thomas Crosbie and Co. Limited.
Like his father, George Crosbie was also involved in public office, serving as a Fine Gael senator in the 1930s. By the mid-1990s, Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited (TCH) had grown larger than Ireland’s other family-owned provincial newspapers. In 1994, TCH’s Examiner Publications unit had revenues of €20 million.
The holding company also had interests in property, forestry, and other investments. In July 2018, the Irish Times completed the acquisition of all of the publishing and media interests of the Landmark Media group, which owned the Irish Examiner and other titles. The company said its objective was to create a “dynamic and vibrant business” that could “sustain itself for the longer term and where the respective media assets – national, regional and radio – will contribute significantly to the Irish media market.”
The story of Apple in Ireland began in 1980 with a single manufacturing facility and 60 employees. Fast-forward to 2023, and Ireland is home to more than 6,000 Apple employees, and a sprawling campus in the city of Cork.
Having celebrated its 40th anniversary in Ireland in 2020, the original manufacturing facility has expanded and is now part of a campus that includes AppleCare, Operations, Logistics, and a variety of other teams staffed by a diverse group of employees representing over 90 nationalities.
Cork also serves as Apple’s European headquarters, supporting customers across the continent and beyond. The facility in Cork was Apple’s first outside of the US.
Cathy Kearney is Apple’s vice president of European Operations and has been with the company in Cork for over 30 years.
“The Cork campus is more than a place — we’re a family. And every day, we strive to uphold Apple’s collective values through our work, whether that’s protecting our planet, defending the right to privacy, or making sure education and technology are accessible to everyone. I’m so honoured to work with such a talented, diverse, and compassionate team every day.”
One of those team members is Grainne Kenny, who started with Apple in Cork in 1990, when she was 18. “I’ve grown up here. I started working on the manufacturing floor, and now 30 years later, I manage a team of between 20 and 30 manufacturing trainers. It’s been a great journey, and I’ve loved the camaraderie and the community we’ve made together.”
That sense of community is something Alvaro Porcel, 33, felt from the moment he started at Apple from Barcelona over ten years ago.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from, or what your language or culture is — you’re welcomed right away at Apple,” said Alvaro. “You’re encouraged to be yourself, and to embrace inclusion and diversity.”
Porcel is a member of the Cork LGBTQ Diversity Network Association (DNA) and the Cork Accessibility DNA, two of Apple’s many DNAs that connect employees with shared interests, backgrounds, and values. He also participates in Apple’s Giving programme, coordinating volunteer engagements for a local charity called Age Action, which provides free technology classes for senior citizens.
Since 2015, Apple’s Giving programme in Cork has supported more than 400 registered charities in Ireland. For every hour a Cork employee volunteers, Apple matches their time with a monetary donation to the same charity.
So far in 2020, a staggering 43 percent of all Cork employees have participated in volunteering activities. Apple employees have been volunteering weekly at Terence MacSwiney School in Cork, helping to teach students coding, music, photography, and video.
That has continued during the pandemic, with volunteers mentoring students through virtual sessions.
Set up in 1969, O’Callaghan Properties is one of Ireland’s most successful privately owned property development and investment companies with commercial, retail and residential projects throughout Ireland and UK.
The company, founded by Owen O’Callaghan, has delivered over 7,500 homes in Cork over more than half a century, as well as shopping centres and offices, with other major schemes in London and Dublin. Owen O’Callaghan, who died aged 76 in 2017, was one of the State’s most successful developers, and one of the few to survive the property crash.
Born a few miles west of Cork, he reshaped his home city over four decades with a succession of major commercial, retail and housing developments. He qualified as a chartered quantity surveyor in 1964 and went to work with a local engineering firm, later becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. In 1969, he formed a building company with his brother Jack, focusing on housing construction in Youghal and Cork city.
The following year, he set up O’Callaghan Properties which was to become one of the most successful privately owned property development companies in Ireland. He transformed the physical landscape of Cork city over the past 40 years, building some of the leading commercial, retail and housing developments.
They include the Opera Lane, Half Moon Street, Merchants’ Quay, plus the North Main Street, Lavitt’s Quay and Paul Street developments, as well as Mahon Point on the city’s eastern outskirts.
He enjoyed strolling around Cork city at lunchtime, on the lookout for prospective sites, and had an intimate knowledge of the maze of narrow lanes and winding streets so characteristic of Cork.
Further afield, he built the retail outlet at Arthur’s Quay in Limerick and the Golden Island shopping centre in Athlone.
In one of the company’s most ambitious projects, O’Callaghan Properties are now planning to transform the city’s Docklands, with a proposal for one of the largest regeneration projects in Ireland, and the biggest Cork residential development to date.
The developers are proposing a new neighbourhood along the quays, with over 1,300 new apartments, shops, restaurants, healthcare facilities, a cinema around new village square.
Ten blocks ranging in height from two to 14 storeys will comprise a total of 1,325 new 1-bed, 2-bed and 3-bed apartments. It will also incorporate the old Odlums building on Kennedy Quay.
An extension to the original mill structure will transform it into apartments, while the old R&H Hall silos are to be demolished.
Brian O’Callaghan, managing director of O’Callaghan Properties, said: “Cork City Docklands is recognised as having a key national economic development role.
Thousands of jobs have already been created in Docklands and it is imperative that residential development runs parallel, otherwise, investment momentum will be impacted. This project will be an exemplar for the 15-minute city concept, will be highly sustainable and be served by efficient public transport. It will be, in every sense, an example of the emerging new city and will make an even bigger statement on the attractiveness of Docklands as a location to work and live.”
“Some of the earlier growth can be credited to brave decisions by some of our founding partners who sacrificed short-term profits for long-term growth and expanded the practice into the national, full-service firm it is today with clients that include multi-nationals, established and growing Irish companies, national institutions and global insurance firms,” Jamie Olden, managing partner, explains of the company’s ongoing expansion across the decades.
Appointed managing partner of the former Ronan Daly Jermyn in September 2022, Jamie joined the firm in 2007, and in 2013 was appointed partner in charge of the firm’s Dublin office, where he spent six years. Over the past decade, expansion from the firm’s original roots in Cork to three national offices has resulted in the doubling of its team to 280 employees.
“Looking back to twenty-five years ago, the firm employed just 18 people — a figure that has now increased to 280 across all our offices. How law firms work is that people who come in become owners at some stage, and there are a lot of owners in this firm. Many of those people could have opted to become more successful individually, but it would have been a very different type of practice and not the corporate law firm it is today offering 95% of legal services to the top organisations throughout the country. There was a generosity there, but also a realisation that growth was critical to the firm’s future success.”
Highlighting how RDJ has expanded its client offering over recent years, Jamie points to a number of areas where the firm has grown significantly.
“The tax department, headed up by John Cuddigan, in its early days was built through lateral hires. Likewise, a now significant M&A practice headed by Gillian Keating, has through the years seen a number of partners join from in-house roles, leading Dublin firms and global law firms. Today much of our expertise is homegrown.
"For example, our data protection team is led by Partner Ricky Kelly who trained as a solicitor with RDJ. The firm has changed even in the last fifteen years where before we would have had to look outside the firm to grow different areas of business — but now have most of the expertise in-house or can identify young people and let them grow the business.”
The firm’s membership of the TerraLex international network of lawyers provides RDJ clients with operations outside Ireland access to legal services in all corners of the world. Significant investments in technology and security, added to by partnerships with leading technology companies have resulted in a digital transformation for the firm, improving client engagement, collaboration and service delivery.
The commercial and social expansion of Cork and its hinterland over recent years has created a greater variety of options for the graduates of today - compared to twenty years ago when moving to Dublin would have been the main option.
“Cork is now an ideal place to recruit, with a wide variety of industries that have developed here both through foreign direct and indigenous investment. With employers across the pharmaceutical, technology, manufacturing and renewable sectors, young graduates have so many more options available to them in Cork today. The commercial expansion of Cork has also allowed the growth of professional services for both ourselves and other firms in the city. You have accountants moving to larger offices, we’ve worked with them and they with us, and all of us working with mutual clients.”
Jamie cites the example of cyber security, and how its growth has resulted in a Cork sector attracting many international brand names:
“We sponsored a Zero Day conference a number of years ago focused on data protection and cybersecurity, subjects that would not have been so prominent at the time. RDJ is now the ‘go-to’ firm for some the leading insurance companies offering cyber insurance in Ireland. Ironically, the growth of cyber has come about due to the increase of criminal activity by bad actors outside of the jurisdiction — and Cork is well placed to deal with it through the expertise now available within RDJ and other firms.”
RDJ is accredited for ISO 27001, the internationally recognised best practice framework for information security management, as well as recently been included in the 2023 Leading in Wellbeing Top 100 Companies Index, published by Ibec in partnership with Business & Finance Media Group, for the third year in a row. The firm has also been named a leader in 17 practice areas in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s largest legal referral guides. In addition, the 2023 edition of Chambers Europe, recommended RDJ in 11 practice areas, including a Band 1 ranking for Insurance law.
Having left the South Mall a decade ago for larger offices at City Gate in Mahon, RDJ is moving back to a state-of-the-art, energy efficient workspace at No 85 South Mall this November — the city’s traditional business, legal and property heartland.
“The move back to the South Mall is good for the city, but also good for ourselves from both a business and sustainability perspective. It copperfastens hybrid working and is a positive move for all concerned.” Looking to the future, Jamie underlines the career opportunities available within RDJ, and how the firm will remain a prominent part of Cork’s commercial environment.
“The benefit of Cork being the RDJ head office means we are able to give our young people the opportunity to work in a corporate law firm with top clients, to have the ability to get the best out of themselves, and the best for us, and to live in place with a quality of life that is second to none.”
In 2014, outsourcing group Capita acquired South Western, which was established as SWS in 1957, in a €35m deal, with the combined businesses having a staff of 2,000 in Ireland.
Capita Customer Solutions had been growing in Ireland, including through a contract to act as ‘servicer’ managing the administration of personal and business loans on behalf of NAMA and a number of the banks.
Cork-based South Western employed 1,000 staff, mainly at offices in Clonakilty, Little Island and Lodz, Poland — in addition to smaller offices in Dublin and Milton Keynes in the UK.
The business process outsourcing firm provided financial, human resources and client relationship management services under contract to public and private sector companies.
Its clients include the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine, Bord Gáis, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Bord Bia, Eircom and Failte Ireland.
The Cork firm was re-branded as Capita Customer Solutions to create a more integrated business model across Ireland, comprising several individual firms delivering financial services, IT services, e-procurement and customer management.
“We are a well-established Irish company,” said Paddy Morrissey, the then managing director, Capita Customer Solutions. “Through our service delivery we interact with a significant number of homes and businesses nationwide every year.
“Since being acquired by Capita, we have built a fantastic platform and are poised for even greater growth in the future. We have very ambitious plans for the expansion of the business over the next couple of years, and will continue to put the customer at the centre of everything we do.”
Today, Capita is a leading provider of business process services, driven by data, technology and people.
Every day, Capita’s 50,000 colleagues help millions of people, by delivering innovative, digitally enabled solutions to transform and simplify the connections between government and citizens, businesses and customers. Capita operates in the UK, Europe, India and South Africa — and across three divisions: Capita Public Service, Capita Experience, and Capita Portfolio.
Global food and beverage brand PepsiCo recently invested €127m at its facility in Cork, which sees enhanced manufacturing capacity and funding for its research and development at the company’s Little Island campus.
First established in Ireland almost 50 years ago, the multinational currently employs more than 1,250 people, increasing its workforce by more than 20% in the last two years.
Over 640 of the company’s workforce is based at its Little Island campus, with a further 300 people based in Carrigaline.
As the investment nears completion, PepsiCo sees further headcount expansion on the horizon.
In addition to permanent staff, the €127m investment has provided employment to more than 700 contractors and vendors during the facility’s development.
PepsiCo’s Little Island operation supports the group’s global brands including Pepsi Max, Gatorade, 7Up, Mountain Dew and Doritos.
Its R&D campus works across several areas including product research, testing and commercialisation, quality assurance, regulatory management and, most recently, facilitated the establishment of a global R&D Digital Engineering team.
Earlier this year, the company completed work on what is the country’s largest rooftop solar panel installation, located at its Carrigaline facility.
Over the course of a year, the solar panels will provide 25% of the electricity required by the site.
During the summer months, they will have the capacity to provide 100% of the site’s electricity needs.
“We have called Cork home for almost 50 years, and our longevity is a testament to the dedication of our talented workforce,” said Brian Colgan, Site Lead, Little Island, PepsiCo.
“Investment in our business has driven the growth of our R&D team, from just 10 people in 2007 to more than 130 today,” said Breda Kennedy, R&D senior director, PepsiCo.
Supported by IDA Ireland, the investment has been welcomed by the IDA’s chief executive, Mary Buckley, who said that the company’s expansion “demonstrates PepsiCo’s commitment to Ireland as it continues to grow its operations nearly 50 years since it first established a footprint in Cork”.
PepsiCo places a huge importance on their active role within the communities in which they operate.
Some of the charities and initiatives PepsiCo has worked with include Field of Dreams, which works with Down Syndrome Ireland to prepare and provide work experience opportunities for young adults within their community, the Men’s Shed, which offers activity, a social outlet and friendships for retired males in the community, and the local Tidy Towns.
Eli Lilly and Company’s win as the Cork Chamber Company of the Year in 2021 formally recognised more than five decades of the pharma giant’s growth in the rebel county, as well as the team’s long-standing commitment to continuous innovation, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2021 Cork Company of The Year Awards, which were, in association with Vodafone Ireland and Media Partner Irish Examiner, held virtually for the first time in 23 years.
The winning submission was a joint effort from the two Lilly sites — Kinsale manufacturing and Cork Global Business Solutions in Little Island, and the accolade was awarded based on a combined 50 years of investment, innovation, and positive impact within the Cork region.
Speaking about winning the 2021 award, Todd Winge, General Manager, Lilly Kinsale, paid tribute to the Lilly team saying: “Winning the Cork Chamber Company of the Year for 2021 a well-deserved tribute to the work of our exceptional teams across both of our sites.”
The company, who have been operating in Ireland since 1978 have established a firm footprint in Cork. In 2022, they announced their plans to open a state-of-the-art biotech manufacturing campus in Raheen, Co Limerick with a €1 billion investment. At start-up, it is expected to employ around 350 people.
Todd continued: “The future for Lilly in Ireland looks very bright, with plans for continued growth across all our sites; from Kinsale Manufacturing and the Global Business Solutions Centre in Little Island to our new site in Limerick. Together, these expansions will enable our fantastic teams to bring the next generation of vital Lilly medicines to patients around the world.”
Lilly has long pioneered a welcoming and inclusive culture that promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion amongst their employees — this policy has been a constant, from the early days of a growing organisation to today’s 2,500-strong workforce in Ireland.
Mike Smith, General Manager at the Lilly Global Business Solutions Centre in Cork, has been an employee of Lilly for nearly 25 years, a tenure that is commonplace in a company that prioritises investment in the growth and development of team-members.
“We have a quote at Lilly that we hold very dear, he says, ‘take what you find here and make it better and better’. All our achievements and successes in Ireland are the result of a Team Lilly effort.”
With over five decades thriving in Cork, Lilly is understandably set on delivering similar success to Limerick.
Mike added: “Winning Cork Chamber Company of the Year Award for 2021 was a tremendous honour, and a fantastic recognition for the Lilly GBS and Kinsale teams. Their passion for their work and their unwavering commitment to delivering on Lilly’s purpose every day is why we won this award — and winning it was a clear acknowledgement of their efforts. Next, while we will continue to expand in Cork, we also want to deliver our new Limerick campus and continue to grow the Lilly success story in Ireland.”
As a young student at the University of Texas in 1984, Michael Dell founded PC’s Limited with $1,000 and a game-changing vision for how technology should be designed, manufactured and sold.
He left his dorm room at the end of his first year to devote all his time to growing the business.
2001 became a year of firsts as Dell becomes the No. 1 computer systems provider worldwide and reached No. 1 in US Intel-based server shipments. Dell inked an agreement with storage leader EMC to enable more affordable enterprise-class storage area network solutions for customers of all sizes.
2013 saw Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners buy back Dell from public shareholders to accelerate its solutions strategy and to focus on the innovations and long-term investments with the most customer value.
Three years later, the Dell journey and the EMC journey join to reach customers and their great ideas globally and to drive human progress. The newly combined Dell Technologies marks the completion of the biggest tech deal in history.
“We’ve achieved a great deal since 1984. Along the way, we learned we’ll stop at nothing to create the technology that powers the world we envision. When we pair that grit with our unique team, no feat is insurmountable. At Dell Technologies, we set ambitious goals that reflect who we are and what we stand for, even when we don’t yet know the path forward. While the world continues changing, we won’t stop innovating to achieve our goals and empower our customers to achieve theirs.”
In March this year, Dell Technologies announced financial results for its fiscal 2023 fourth quarter and full year. Revenue for the year was a record $102.3 billion, up 1% over fiscal year 2022. The company generated record operating income of $5.8 billion, up 24% over the prior year, and record non-GAAP operating income of $8.6 billion, up 11%.
“In FY23, we accelerated our innovation agenda, drove share gains and delivered strong profitability in a challenging environment – resulting in record revenue of $102.3 billion, record operating income and record ISG revenue of $38.4 billion,” said Chuck Whitten, co-chief operating officer, Dell Technologies.
“The long-term trends are in our favor, as data increases exponentially and we continue to help customers navigate the complexities of hybrid work, multicloud and edge.”
Jeff Clarke, vice chairman and co-chief operating officer, Dell Technologies, added: “Our end-to-end portfolio is a proven competitive advantage in this changing environment. In ISG we had our eighth consecutive quarter of growth in the fourth quarter with revenue of $9.9 billion, record profitability, and record storage revenue of $5 billion. In CSG, we are focusing on the most profitable segments of the PC market to outperform the industry. We are poised to capture growth even as customer spending priorities shift.”
Tom Sweet, chief financial officer, Dell Technologies, said: “We continue to deliver for our customers and meet our capital return commitments by taking a disciplined approach to managing our business. We returned approximately $3.8 billion of capital to our shareholders in FY23 and are increasing our annual dividend by 12% in FY24, reflecting our confidence in our long-term business model and ability to generate and grow our cash flow over time.”
A half century ago, NASA launch control architects used huge computer systems taking up entire rooms that had roughly the computing power of something in your pocket — a present-day smart phone.
To put this into perspective, just one Dell PowerEdge server is roughly 20 times faster, packing 16,000 times the amount of RAM, and increases compute power by nearly 1,800% compared to the entire firing room system used in the 1970s, or one smart phone today. Imagine what an entire room of PowerEdge servers can do now.
Today, with Artemis I, and eventually Artemis II and Artemis III, NASA launch control architects, engineers and technicians are using substantially more compact Dell PowerEdge servers in the same storied rooms used in the Apollo missions to deliver the compute muscle and resiliency needed for enormously complex tasks.
These servers enable NASA to run flight software applications, perform system monitoring capabilities and analyze data in real-time. With Dell Precision workstations, flight surgeons, orbital test directors, meteorologists and other specialists have consoles to interpret the 185,000 critical data points and telemetry coming from monitoring the launch at every manageable level.
This gives countless insights and greater control over launches that was unfathomable on our last manned flight to the moon.
Carbery was founded in 1965 as a joint venture between four creameries and Express Dairies, UK. Since then, it have continued to expand and grow, taking market leading positions in dairy, ingredients and flavours, and creating new markets for the milk of its farmer shareholders.
The company stated: “From our beginnings as a way for the farmers of west Cork to add value to their milk, over our 50+ year history, Carbery has grown to become a leading international dairy, nutritional and flavour company, exporting to over 50 markets and employing 1,000 people in eight countries.
“Alongside our commitment to growing the company and true to our co-op roots, we prioritise being a truly sustainable business. We care deeply about the impact we have economically, socially and on our planet, and like the farmers we support, strive to leave a positive legacy for generations to come.
"We value the relationship built with Cork Chamber over many years, and are honoured to have been awarded Cork Company of the year in 2011 and 2022, as well as International Company of the Year in 2022. We don’t do what we do to win awards, but when they come, we appreciate the acknowledgment of the hard work of our teams globally.
“Thanks to Cork Chamber for all their support of Carbery down through the years.”
At every level of the business, from the scientists who develop new products to the manufacturers who produce whey protein, flavours and cheese to the commercial teams who find new markets for products, Carbery is focused on delivering the highest value return for shareholders, and enriching lives with its healthy foods.
As part of FutureProof sustainability initiative in 2023, Carbery suppliers will receive 1c per litre bonus in exchange for the implementation of milk recording, meeting certain EBI thresholds, commitment to an ASSAP water quality assessment and using protected urea.
To prepare for the roll out of the full scheme in 2023, every supplier who opts into the scheme will receive a 0.5cpl bonus by the end of 2022. In exchange, farmers will commit to a sustainability pledge, and all farms will agree to undergo an ASSAP assessment for water quality.
Jason Hawkins, CEO of Carbery, stated: “Carbery is a company with a commitment to sustainability since our foundation, and this ethos has come from the attitude of our 1,220 farmer suppliers.
“We have a long record of pioneering sustainable approaches and promoting sustainability on our farms. Whether through our Carbery Trees program under which 100,000 trees have been planted on West Cork farms, our Carbery Greener Dairy farmers programme, underway since 2012, or our Farm Zero C project, we have always prioritised sustainable approaches.
“The FutureProof bonus will ensure Carbery farmers take their sustainability approach to the next level, and that we remain to the forefront of farming sustainably. We have chosen to focus on four very specific, measurable areas, which we believe will have the most impact, in terms of reducing environmental impact, improving efficiency on farms, and shifting the dial quickly on emissions and water quality, which is what we need to see in order to secure the future of dairy farming.
“Though we are starting from a good base, with years of positive action behind us, farmers have a huge challenge ahead to meet the agriculture reduction target of 25% as set out in the Climate Action Plan. We will support our farmers all the way, and Futureproof will be a key enabler of this. We look forward to working together with Government on their proposals to do the same.”
Cormac O’Keeffe, chairman of Carbery, explained: “We have consistently said that we know our farmers are committed to farming responsibly and sustainably. They just need to be supported to try new measures. Through the introduction of this bonus, we are committed to providing this support, and to continue to champion responsible, ethical and sustainable farming, producing quality milk.”
The FutureProof bonus will take full effect in 2023. Implementation of all four FutureProof measures would see the average Carbery supplier earning an additional €5,000/annum from the bonus. This is in addition to savings and gains that would be made through efficiencies and increased productivity.
VMWare has a significant presence in Cork where it employs about 900 people. Founded in 1998 it invented virtualisation software, which consolidated applications and workloads on a smaller number of server computers by using each server to handle more than one program.
VMware was acquired by storage technology giant EMC in 2004, which then became Dell Technologies in 2016. VMware then spun off from Dell in 2021, with Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake remaining top investors in VMware.
In 2022, Broadcom agreed to buy VMware Inc. for €56.9bn in one of the largest technology deals of all time, turning the chipmaker into a bigger force in software. The deal is the biggest takeover ever for a chipmaker and extends the acquisition aim of Broadcom chief executive officer, Hock Tan, who has built one of the largest and most diversified companies in the industry.
VMware bolsters Broadcom’s software offerings — corporate software maker CA Technologies in 2018 and Symantec’s enterprise security business in 2019.
“Building upon our proven track record of successful M&A, this transaction combines our leading semiconductor and infrastructure software businesses with an iconic pioneer and innovator in enterprise software as we re-imagine what we can deliver to customers as a leading infrastructure technology company,” said Mr Tan.
“We look forward to VMware’s talented team joining Broadcom, further cultivating a shared culture of innovation and driving even greater value for our combined stakeholders, including both sets of shareholders.”
Raghu Raghuram, chief executive officer of VMware, said: “VMware has been reshaping the IT landscape for the past 24 years, helping our customers become digital businesses. We stand for innovation and unwavering support of our customers and their most important business operations and now we are extending our commitment to exceptional service and innovation by becoming the new software platform for Broadcom.”
Acquired by Telus International in 2017, call centre services provider Voxpro was founded in Cork in 1999 by Dan and Linda Kiely.
Starting out in a small office above a pub on Marlboro Street, the company eventually grew from a six-employee team to almost 3,000 in Cork and Dublin, California and Georgia in the US, as well as Bucharest, Romania, and in Manila, Philippines.
The Kielys eventually grew the business into a global player in the customer services outsourcing sector. Voxpro provides high-end call-centre operations for fast-growing tech companies, offering multilingual product support, technical support and specialist services in safety, risk, analytics and social media management for client firms.
The company specialises in providing multilingual tech support and business outsourcing services, providing their clients with customer contact services, call centre services, 24/7 call answering, and technical support services in 12 different languages. Voxpro has clients in the domestic and international markets — ranging from SMEs to multi-national corporations, including leading international blue-chip companies.
The firm included global giants Google and Airbnb on its client list. Established as one of the great success stories in the global online services sector in Cork, the couple finalised a deal to sell their company to Canadian call-centre giant Telus International in 2020 in a sale believed to be worth over €150m. Telus has 28,000 employees worldwide and €10bn in annual revenue.
Cork Chamber chief executive, Conor Healy, said the impact of Voxpro on Cork could not be underestimated: “What must be emphasised is that Voxpro provided employment to people in Cork at a time when we were still coming through the economic recession. Those jobs were badly needed in Cork at the time. We can only hope that the progress Voxpro has made continues, providing more jobs locally, nationally and internationally. This deal with Telus International is the next phase of one of the most successful Cork stories.”
The first tenant in Mahon’s City Gate campus on the outskirts of the city, SolarWinds has become a cornerstone of the tech landscape and has been recognised as such by the Cork Chamber of Commerce.
Acting as the Texas company’s international headquarters, SolarWinds’ Cork base has helped drive growth across the world since arriving in Ireland in 2007 — offering a range of purpose-built products to businesses of all shapes and sizes in need of IT solutions.
Accepting the award in 2015, SolarWinds senior vice-president of finance and operations international David Owens said: “The award reflects the tremendous effort and commitment of all our employees and signifies a major milestone in our ongoing, long-term investment in Cork and the Cork community. We look forward to many more years building our company’s footprint here and continuing this relationship with the chamber.”
Six months later, technology-focused investment firms Silver Lake Partners and Thoma Bravo teamed up to complete the buyout of the IT management software company.
SolarWinds chief executive Kevin B Thompson said the deal will provide the company with additional flexibility to deliver for its customers: “This transaction recognises the strength of our unique business model and provides our shareholders with immediate and substantial cash value at a compelling premium. Becoming a private company will provide SolarWinds with optimal operating flexibility to execute on its long-term strategy of providing superior products for IT and development and operations professionals all over the world.”
Garrett O’Keeffe, Cork site leader, SolarWinds, said: “Since winning the Cork Company of the Year Award in 2015, our employer brand recognition has improved locally, helping establish SolarWinds as an employer of choice in the region. In the subsequent eight years, we’ve been better positioned to attract top-tier local talent, successfully growing our headcount by 25%.
“The award also led to greater involvement in the Cork Chamber of Commerce, opening the doors to the Chamber’s excellent events and networking opportunities. This has allowed us to play a more significant role in the business community in Cork and advocate for the region globally as a great place to do business.”
In August 2023, the SolarWinds Secure by Design initiative received a CSO50 Award for IT Infrastructure Monitoring and Management. The Next-Generation Build System is a new secure software framework designed in response to the evolving threat landscape where highly sophisticated attackers are now capable of launching new types of unforeseeable attacks against both the government and private sector.
“Our Secure by Design initiative was created to set a new standard in software supply chain security through innovative build systems and processes,” said SolarWinds Chief Information Security Officer and VP of Security Tim Brown. “Collaborating within the industry is the only way we can protect our shared cyberinfrastructure, and we are hopeful this new software development model can support other companies with a roadmap for more secure builds.”
Winning the award capped a remarkable turnaround for the firm which returned to Cork in 2014 to establish its global headquarters. Recognition of the firm’s important role within the city, and the staff it had hired since its return, also came on the day it moved to its new home at One Albert Quay.
“It’s been a hugely significant year for us, establishing a global business services centre in Cork, hiring more than 200 highly talented staff and delivering Ireland’s ‘smartest’ building at One Albert Quay.
“It’s a wonderful, happy coincidence that we move in on the same day of the award,” said the then Tyco Ireland general manager, Donal Sullivan. “Winning these awards truly reinforces our belief that we are doing something that is significant and transformational for us and for Cork.”
Eamonn Hughes is the current GM of Johnson Controls.
In September 2016, with a vision to create a safe and sustainable world, a newly formed Johnson Controls began operations following the successful completion of its merger with Tyco, marking a historic turning point for both companies. By uniting Johnson Controls, the number one provider of building efficiency solutions with Tyco, the No1 provider of fire and security solutions, the new company was uniquely positioned as a leader in products, technologies and integrated solutions for the buildings and energy sectors.
With $30bn in revenue and 117,000 employees, this powerful combination brings together best-in-class product, technology and service capabilities across controls, fire, security, HVAC and energy storage, to serve the full spectrum of end markets including large institutions, government, commercial buildings, retail, industrial, small business and residential.
The Tyco and Johnson Controls building’s platforms create immediate opportunities for growth through cross-selling, complementary branch and distribution channel networks, and expanded global reach for established businesses.
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and multi-industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries. Its employees create intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next generation transportation systems that work together to deliver on the promise of smart cities and communities. The company’s commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat.
As a member of the Cork Chamber of Commerce for more than 10 years, Johnson Controls has enjoyed a wealth of support as it continues to create smarter, healthier and more sustainable buildings.
In fact, it is now the world’s leading dedicated smart buildings company, creating spaces and places that improve well-being, achieve climate goals and save money. Johnson Controls works with customers and partners to co-create inspiring learning environments, healthier hospital rooms, efficient workplaces and laboratories, safe and connected stadiums and so much more.
When accepting the Cork Chamber award for 2017, Dairygold’s then chief executive Jim Woulfe said he was “merely the captain accepting the cup on behalf of the Dairygold team” which had increased its milk production by half over the previous six years.
Paying tribute to the company’s suppliers and staff, Mr Woulfe said Dairygold had been faced with an opportunity six years ago to prepare for the ending of the European Union superlevy regime, and said the company had met its targets.
“I’m really proud that the Dairygold team rose to the challenge and our suppliers, some 2,900 milk producers upped their output from 800 million litres of milk to 1.2 billion litres of milk all of which is being processed here in Co Cork,” he said.
He said the regeneration and redevelopment of its dairy sites at Mitchelstown and Mallow could not have been achieved without the support of Cork County Council and various contractors which saw it invest more in milk processing infrastructure in the past five years than in the preceding 30 years.
“It was the confidence that these developments demonstrated that led to us securing significant external investment by Ornua in establishing the Kerrygold Butter Centre of Excellence at our site in Mitchelstown. And now Tine — Norway’s largest dairy processor is doing the same with Jarlsberg Cheese at our site in Mogeely in East Cork.”
In January 2023, Dairygold committed €10 million per year to its new Grassroots Milk Supplier Sustainability Bonus, which will be paid to Dairygold Milk Suppliers who undertake certain actions on their farm designed to improve sustainability, including reducing emissions, protecting water quality and improving soil health.
The Grassroots Bonus builds on the existing 0.25 cent per litre sustainability bonus introduced by Dairygold in 2019 and will give Dairygold’s Milk Suppliers the opportunity to receive a total of 0.75 cent per litre by participating in the bonus programme.
Bonus payments will be made to Dairygold Milk Suppliers who participate in six separate actions, namely a water quality farm visit, the purchase of qualifying Protected Urea products, a soil health programme, farmer training, milk recording and herd health.
Dairygold Chairman Sean O’Brien said: “Our Milk Suppliers are at the core of any positive action we take as an industry to address the climate change and environmental challenge. Rewarding them for the positive sustainability changes they are making on their farms is crucial to ensure we have as much support as possible for our collective goal of meeting our environmental targets.”
Commenting on the Grassroots Bonus, Dairygold Chief Executive Conor Galvin said: “We have a proud record of working with our Milk Suppliers to promote adoption of best practices in quality milk production.
“Our Milk Suppliers are very aware of the need to enhance environmental performance. This investment in our Grassroots Bonus is our way of recognising the effort and improvements being made on farm to ensure our milk is produced even more sustainably.”
The Grassroots Bonus is open to all of Dairygold’s Milk Suppliers now and Milk Suppliers will be paid from the month they sign up to the bonus programme.
In Cork, Boston Scientific manufactures a wide range of products for its four divisions — peripheral interventions, endoscopy, interventional cardiology, and urology and pelvic health. According to the company, seven patients a minute are treated with products shipped by Boston Scientific Cork.
Vice-president of operations, Sean Gayer, said Boston Scientific was delighted to win the award.
“This is a fantastic recognition for the entire Boston Scientific team at Model Farm Road. It is an honour to be considered in the same light as previous finalists, who have inspired business excellence in our community,” he said.
A workforce of 24,000 colleagues strong, with an impressive portfolio of 13,000 products, Boston Scientific is at the forefront of the medical device industry – leading, evolving and transforming it into bolder and more amazing territories.
In May 2023, the company announced plans to invest €80m in the expansion of its manufacturing and research and development capabilities at its site in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. The new investment will increase office and manufacturing space at the site, and transition the entire premises to source more than 90% of its energy needs from renewable sources.
“Our growth in the region has been possible thanks to our talented workforce here in Clonmel,” said Boston Scientific’s vice president of operations, Conor Russell. “Our team has worked to build strong manufacturing and R&D capabilities and also a high-performing and inclusive culture that we are proud to continue to foster as an employer of choice.”
Being recognised as the Cork Company of the Year was a fantastic recognition for the entire Boston Scientific team at Model Farm Road, especially when you consider the calibre of previous recipients and finalists. Getting recognised in “your own parish” is great and it remains a source of great pride for the team.
Since receiving the award in 2018, Boston Scientific have completed a 30,000 square foot building extension, doubled our output and increased our workforce to 1,600.
Our team brings over 10,000 years of knowledge to work every day allowing us to better serve the physicians and patients, who depend on our products being available when required. The site now manufactures 18m units annually, positively impacting 28 lives every minute.
Our employees continue to have a positive impact in the community through our Green team, our Charity team and with educational programs such as STEM and Junior Achievement. Boston Scientific celebrates 25 years in Cork this year and we are looking forward to the next 25!
Being recognised as the Cork Company of the Year was a fantastic recognition for the entire Boston Scientific team at Model Farm Road, especially when you consider the calibre of previous recipients and finalists. Getting recognised in “your own parish” is great and it remains a source of great pride for the team.
Since receiving the award in 2018, Boston Scientific have completed a 30,000 square foot building extension, doubled our output and increased our workforce to 1,600.
Our team brings over 10,000 years of knowledge to work every day allowing us to better serve the physicians and patients, who depend on our products being available when required. The site now manufactures 18m units annually, positively impacting 28 lives every minute.
Our employees continue to have a positive impact in the community through our Green team, our Charity team and with educational programs such as STEM and Junior Achievement. Boston Scientific celebrates 25 years in Cork this year and we are looking forward to the next 25!
Employees based in Boston Scientific’s Clonmel site manufacture medical devices that support the treatment of more than 400,000 patients globally each year. Products created there help patients suffering from conditions such as heart disease, neurological disorders, kidney stones, and diseases of the pancreas, bile ducts, and esophagus.
Taoiseach Leo Varakdar said Boston Scientific had been “steadily growing its footprint in Ireland for the past quarter century.”
Boston Scientific in Ireland has transformed its activities over its 30 years here, Mary Buckley, executive director with IDA Ireland, added: “We welcome this investment in R&D and further manufacturing, which will offer new opportunities and careers in Tipperary and the region from the largest life sciences employer in Ireland.” Boston Scientific began operating in Ireland in 1994. The company now employs more than 6,500 people across its sites in Galway, Cork, and Clonmel.
In April 2022, Boston Scientific unveiled a new €100 million expansion of its operations at Ballybrit in Galway. The expansion is expected to enable over 300 jobs in the coming years and includes over 40,000 square feet of medical device manufacturing space that will be powered by renewable energy. Boston Scientific has had a strong presence in Galway for nearly 30 years and has expanded site capabilities to include advanced product design, R&D and manufacturing.
More than four million medical devices are exported from the Galway facility every year, including heart stents and valves, vascular balloons and esophageal stents. These products help treat patients with conditions including heart disease, vascular disease, esophageal cancer, and those at risk of stroke.
The expanded site will include a carbon neutral manufacturing space in alignment with the company’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality in all manufacturing and key distribution sites by 2030.
“Boston Scientific has a workforce of more than 6,500 people across its sites in Galway, Clonmel and Cork, making it the largest life sciences employer in Ireland,” said Martin Shanahan, the then CEO, IDA Ireland. “Today, Ireland has the highest per capita number of people employed in the European medical device industry. Boston Scientific is one of the leading global MedTech companies choosing to grow in Ireland and contribute to a vibrant industry sector, which has a key role to play in tackling the world’s biggest healthcare challenges.”
Manufacturing software provider to life science firms, Cognizant (formerly Zenith Technologies), which began life as a small business 20 years ago, now employs 900 people globally.
Staff work in 16 offices, with more than 230 in Cork. The firm works with nine of the world’s 10 largest biopharma manufacturers, implementing and supporting their manufacturing software.
Formed as Zenith Technologies in 1998, founder Brendan O’Regan, in accepting the Cork Company of the Year 2019 award, said: “This award reflects an overnight success 20 years in the making and is a tremendous recognition of the effort and quality of the whole team at Zenith Technologies.
“As a Cork-founded company and Irish multinational it is truly an honour to be considered in the same league as previous winners and to be celebrated in our home city.”
He said the achievement was due to the aptitude of the Cork company’s staff. Winning the award would allow the company to “seize new opportunities that undoubtedly will arise from receiving this award,” he said.
In 2019, Zenith Technologies was bought by US tech service giant Cognizant for an undisclosed sum. Zenith staff became part of Cognizant’s life science division; the US Fortune 500 firm said, “bringing together two respected life sciences service provider brands with complementary technology and manufacturing operations expertise.”
The deal came at a good time “with the life sciences industry embracing digital transformation to enable more flexible and efficient manufacturing facilities”.
Cognizant said the deal would help expand its Internet of Things reach, as well as its life science expertise.
“Together, we are better positioned to help clients realise information and operational technology convergence in their manufacturing operations, and advance life-saving drugs, biologics, specialised pharmaceuticals and medical devices,” said the US firm’s chief executive Brian Humphries.
Based in Midleton in East Cork since 1825, Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys.
Led by Jameson, their brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey and are exported to 130+ markets around the world. Jameson, the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey is a Top 3 selling international whiskey brand and a Top 10 International spirits brand, recording sales of over 10 million cases in 2022.
Earlier this year Irish Distillers and Heineken Ireland announced they will work together for three years to help barley farmers adopt regenerative agricultural practices. The three-year pilot project, which will be rolled out globally if successful, will support farmers to ultimately improve the economic and climatic resilience of malting barley farming in Ireland.
At the core of everything that Irish Distillers does is a passion for crafts, a commitment to sustainability and an ambition to create drinks that can be enjoyed the world over. Since 2012, Irish Distillers has invested in their distilling and bottling capacity to meet global demand with a focus on minimising their environmental impact and maximising their contribution to the communities from which they have grown.
They are focused on implementing projects which will significantly reduce and ultimately remove carbon emissions across operations at Midleton Distillery. Every possible opportunity for reducing emissions is considered — from improving energy generation efficiency to recycling waste heat in the distillation process.
Irish Distillers work with their packaging partners to ensure that by the end of 2025, all Irish Distillers’ secondary packaging will be recyclable, reusable, compostable or removed. When it comes to growing barley, over 300 growers are participating in their Sustainable Green Spring Barley Scheme which aims to improve the economic sustainability of spring barley sector; supports spring barley farmers in reducing CO2 footprint and enhances biodiversity on Irish tillage farms.
Irish Distillers employs over 800 people across operations in Cork and Dublin.
Medical technology firm Stryker was named overall Cork Company of the Year winner at the 25th Cork Chamber annual dinner.
The US firm, which first opened in Cork in 1998, has expanded significantly to operate across six sites employing more than 4,000 people. It produces a range of orthopaedic medical devices along with lifesaving products for the treatment of brain aneurysms and strokes. Stryker also won the international company of the year category.
Ronan Murray, Cork Chamber president, said: “Stryker’s campus in Cork is a key contributor to their innovative offering of products and services that impact over 100m patients worldwide every year. Not only have they grown their product portfolio to become one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, but they have also contributed hugely to the Cork economy. They recently invested $300m in their Carrigtwohill facility, creating capacity for an additional 600 new jobs.”
Bernard O’Connor, vice president at Stryker, said the award is a testament to the drive and dedication of their teams: “Stryker’s story in Cork began with 20 people in 1998, 25 years later we now employ over 4,000 people across six sites. We are proud of our success. Our continued growth and investment mean that Cork is a hub for our manufacturing, supply chain management, and R&D. Stryker benefits from the talent pool in Cork and works closely with our education and business partners to drive a programme of lifelong learning.”
Cork is Stryker’s biggest innovation and manufacturing hub outside of our U.S. headquarters. The company began operations in Cork in 1998 with 20 employees and one site. Today, its Cork facilities employ over 4,100 people across six sites, in R&D and manufacturing, and it is home to Stryker’s European operations leadership with many global programs led from Cork. Stryker’s operations in Cork are driving a culture of innovation, which is reflected by the fact that a significant number of employees are working in R&D roles.
“Our Cork R&D teams have contributed to Stryker’s innovative portfolio — from stroke care to hip implants, from surgical instruments to 3D-printed devices. At Stryker, we don’t see ourselves as simply being located in Cork, but as a part of the community, which comes with responsibilities. We take these responsibilities seriously. We regularly partner with groups and local representatives to positively impact our communities.”
In August 2022, Stryker opened its high-tech facility at Anngrove — its new 156,000-sq-ft development which creates capacity for 600 high-tech jobs in the future, and will help further Stryker’s leadership in additive manufacturing. In addition to housing Stryker’s manufacturing facilities, Anngrove is also the worldwide headquarters of the AMagine Institute, which is the centre of excellence for additive manufacturing across Stryker.
Meanwhile, Cork Chamber of Commerce is inviting businesses to apply for next year's Cork Company of the Year awards. See below.
A collection of the latest business articles and business analysis from Cork.
