EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ event highlights the power of agility and innovation during uncertain times

Dublin, 11 April 2024: Some of Ireland's most successful, dynamic and game changing entrepreneurs gathered today at The Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin for the annual EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ (EOY) Spring Energiser. The event provides Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs an opportunity to share and exchange insights on how they are capitalising on opportunities to optimise their businesses, and how through their exploration of new technologies, applications and markets, they are providing innovative solutions to many of today’s greatest challenges.

The event featured a distinguished line-up of speakers including Rosaleen Blair (AMS), Mark Kelly (AI Ireland), Pat McCann (Dalata Hotel Group) Sam Smith (Cavendish Financial), broadcaster and columnist Ivan Yates, EY Chief Economist, Loretta O’Sullivan, and former Leinster and Ireland rugby player and entrepreneur, Rob Kearney.

Roger Wallace, Partner Lead, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland, said:

“Great things happen when you bring like-minded passionate individuals together and that’s what the Spring Energiser is all about. It’s a chance for Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs to pool their collective knowledge and experience, to listen and learn from each other, and to help spark those ideas that lead to new and creative ways to build their businesses. The range of industries Irish entrepreneurs work in is vast and while many work in different fields, their shared experience and skills as entrepreneurs brings them together as a community of trailblazing pioneers.

“Change, challenge, but also tremendous opportunity underscore 2024. And while there will undoubtedly be uncertainty and change ahead, we know that when faced with adversity, entrepreneurs truly come in to their own. Entrepreneurs are natural problem-solvers with a talent for finding creative solutions that will spur innovation and cultivate growth. They instinctively know how to forge their own path to enable their companies, people, and the wider economy to reach new heights.”

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ alumni community comprises more than 600 entrepreneurs representing some of the greatest business minds across the island of Ireland. Together, the EOY alumni community generates revenues of €23bn, and employs more than 250,000 across the island of Ireland.

Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest and Chairperson of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Judging™ Panel  said:

“As entrepreneurs, continuous learning and persistent curiosity underpins all our endeavours, and the Spring Energiser perfectly encapsulates that spirit. Today’s event is about bringing together the EOY alumni community to share and exchange ideas, best-practice and to discuss what the opportunities are that are exciting them today – from AI, to sustainability, disruptive innovation to new growth markets and beyond. Even amidst economic headwinds and business challenges, the EOY alumni community continue to apply ingenuity, agility, and determination to solve problems and find solutions that offer opportunities for their own businesses, their local communities and wider society.”

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For further information, images and interview opportunities, please contact: 

Jocelyn Grant, Communications Manager, EY | Jocelyn.grant@ie.ey.com | p: +353 83 013 8650

Notes to Editor

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme is a global recognition programme run in 145 cities in more than 60 countries. Currently in its 27th year in Ireland, the programme works to recognise, promote and build a supportive community around Ireland’s high-growth entrepreneurs and is considered one of the strongest programmes globally.

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