Ireland France Business Awards 2023

The Ireland France Business Awards ceremony took place on Thursday 16th November 2023 at the
Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. The awards, organised annually by the France Ireland Chamber of
Commerce (FICC) and NetworkIrlande, recognise excellence within the Franco-Irish business
community and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the winning companies within their
respective sectors and the development of trade and investment between Ireland and France.
The Irish government was represented by Mr. Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport and
Education, who briefly addressed the 300+ French and Irish business leaders present while the
trophies were then presented by Derek Kehoe, CEO BNP Paribas Ireland, David Cass, Partner -
Financial Services and Transformation, Sia Partners UK & Ireland, and Seamus Egan, Business
Development Director, Transdev.

H.E. Vincent Guérend, Ambassador of France to Ireland said “The business relationship between
France and Ireland is flourishing as never before, producing significant results for both countries. The
Ireland France Business Awards is an important occasion to both celebrate this and to build on it,
generating new momentum in this thriving relationship. 
France is the first EU Supplier of goods in Ireland and the first EU investor in Ireland. The trade
skyrocketed in 10 years (France exports tripled and Imports from Ireland doubled) and 2022 sharply
acceleated, with +45% for French exports and + 14 %  for imports.  300 French companies have
subsidiaries in Ireland. »

Speaking at the event Áine Murray, President France Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said: “The
annual Ireland France Business Awards is a highlight of the Franco-Irish business calendar. We have
seen our members impress with their increased investment in Ireland, constructing centres of
innovation, research, and hubs for their businesses. We have seen new French companies entering
Ireland and benefiting from the FICC’s landing space. Connectivity between our two nations as EU
neighbours is increasing across transport, energy, pharmaceuticals, sustainability and many more
sectors. We are privileged to be able to celebrate tonight our shared values and the positive impact of
our joint collaboration.”

Richard Dujardin, President NetworkIrlande, said: “The quality and depth of the Franco – Irish
business relationship has never been stronger and we are delighted to celebrate our mutual
engagement again this year through the Ireland France Business Awards. These awards not only
shine a spotlight on the companies that are contributing to Franco-Irish trade but also bring out the
very nature of what unites our two countries so strongly both across our economic links but also
through our historic and cultural ties.”

The Best French Company in Ireland Award, sponsored by BNP Paribas, was presented to
Pascal Baraffe, General Manager of Servier (Ireland) Industries. Servier (Ireland) Industries is a
pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Arklow, Co Wicklow. Part of the Servier Independent Research
Foundation, their 500 staff produce 35 products for 100 countries, supporting their ethos: Patient 1st,
Safety Always.

The Best Irish Company in France Award, sponsored by Sia Partners, was presented to Conor
O’Riain, Managing Director Europe, Ecocem. For over 20 years, Ecocem has pioneered the
development, manufacture and supply of low-carbon cement and construction solutions in Europe,
which already substantially reduces the carbon footprint of traditional cement. ACT, its latest
technology, offers a globally scalable solution that can deliver up to 70% reduction in CO2 without
excessive cost. An independent company with a world-class innovation centre and four manufacturing
plants in Europe. Ecocem is working with the cement industry to halve industry emissions by 2030 and
build a more sustainable future for all.

The Franco-Irish Business Newcomer of the Year Award, sponsored by Transdev, was
presented to Danny Gleeson, Chief Commercial Officer, Réaltra Space. Irish company Réaltra
provided the HD video telemetry system on Ariane 5 for the James Webb Space Telescope launch.
Réaltra designs high-reliability, rad-tolerant space electronics systems, and has deep experience and
know-how in adapting COTS electronics for space using in-house and licensed technologies to help
reduce the life cycle cost.

The high calibre of candidates across all three categories was recognised by the Jury chaired by
Eoin Scott, Treasurer France Ireland Chamber of Commerce. The rest of the jury was composed
of Mathieu Gorge, President, French Advisors Ireland (CCEF), Brendan McDonald, VP Engineering &
Green Economy, IDA, Monica MacLaverty, Manager Southern Europe, Tourism Ireland, Elodie Morin-
Rager, Director Ireland, Business France, Michèle Nissen-Sageot, Deputy Head of the Economic
Department, French Embassy in Ireland, Orla Noonan, President of the Board, Adevinta, Paul Regan,
Ex-Group Treasurer, Smurfit Kappa, and Patrick Torrekens, Manager France, Enterprise Ireland.

The 2023 Ireland France Business Awards were organised with the valued support of EirGrid.
EirGrid is a proud sponsor of the Ireland France Business Awards 2023. EirGrid and project partner
@RTE_France, its French equivalent, are working together to deliver the Celtic Interconnector project,
linking both countries' electricity grids and bringing us closer to a low-carbon future.