14th January – New Horizons Webinar

As 2021 kicks off, we will present a special webinar featuring speakers from the Business & Finance 2020 CEO 100 Index. The speakers will discuss the new horizons for business and transitioning from 2020 into 2021; what trends, challenges and solutions lie ahead.

23rd February 2021 – Virtual Awards Ceremony

This year we will honour the businesses that have persevered in extraordinary times at our live broadcasted Virtual Awards Ceremony. We will be announcing this year’s winners of our five prestigious awards:

• Company of the Year
• Business Person of the Year
• FDI of the Year
• Elevation Award
• Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award

 June 2021 – Gala Awards Dinner

In May, Business & Finance will continue the tradition of recognising business excellence at a gala awards dinner where highlights will include honouring John Hume with the TK Whitaker Award and Henry (Hank) Paulson, 74th US Secretary of the Treasury & Founder of the Paulson Institute, with the Sutherland Leadership Award. 

Past Years

The 2019 Awards showcased a ‘Celebration of FDI in Ireland’. In doing so, the Awards recognised IDA Ireland on their 70th Anniversary and in a broader context, celebrated the success of FDI companies and their contribution to Irish business.

The 2018 Awards saw The inaugural Sutherland Leadership Award recognising former President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese received the 2018 TK Whitaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Life as part of the 44th annual Business & Finance Awards. Joe Schmidt received the Outstanding Contribution to Brand Ireland.

The 2017 Awards saw Former Taoiseach Mr. Enda Kenny TD being honoured with the TK Whitaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Life, Brian Moynihan of Bank of America received the Outstanding Achievement in Business Award, and Aidan O’Brien received the Outstanding Contribution to Brand Ireland Award.

The 2016 Business & Finance Awards honoured President of Ireland Michael D.Higgins with the Inaugural TK Whitaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Life, Sir Bob Geldof received the Outstanding Contribution to Ireland Award. In addition, Susan Whelan, CEO, Leicester City Football Club received Global Irish Outstanding Achievement in Business Award.

In 2015, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson with The Outstanding Contribution to Ireland Award presented by Former Secretary General of The United Nations Kofi Annan.

Over the past 45 years, the prestigious Business & Finance Awards programme has celebrated the outstanding achievements of individuals such as JP McManus, Neville Isdell, Michael Smurfit, Tony Ryan, Dermot Desmond, Liam O’ Mahony, Willie Walsh, Philip Lynch, Peter Sutherland, T.K. Whitaker and Denis O’ Brien as recipients of the Business Person of the Year Award.

Recognised for the exceptional performance of their management teams previous winners of the Company of the Year Award include: Dalata Hotel Group, Kingspan, Primark, Smurfit Kappa Group, Paddy Power Betfair, Google, CRH, Intel Ireland, First Active, United Drug, Ryanair, Iona Technologies, Glanbia, Kerry Group and many more.

Each year the Awards are attended by 1200 CEOs and business leaders. The support of a select group of corporate patrons allows for the Awards’ independent status to be maintained and presents the patrons with the opportunity to be in the room with the CEOs of the top 500 companies and the most influential business leaders in our country.