Ireland France Business Awards 2020

The Ireland France Business Awards ceremony took place during a virtual event on Thursday 26th November. The awards, organised annually by NetworkIrlande and the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce (FICC), 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 Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Robert Troy T.D. who briefly addressed the 160+ French and Irish business leaders present while the trophies were then presented by H.E. Patricia O’Brien, Ambassador of Ireland to France and Honorary President of NetworkIrlande, H.E. Vincent Guerend, Ambassador of France to Ireland and Honorary President of the FICC and Richard Dujardin, president of NetworkIrlande and CEO of ISS France. Margot Slattery, President of the FICC and Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Sodexo Group emceed the event.

Speaking at the event Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy T.D. said “Ireland’s economic relationship with France is very strong with total trade between both our countries worth over €30 billion per year.  France is our biggest market globally for lamb and seafood while there are over 60 IDA Ireland supported French companies in Ireland.”

The Minister added, “France is now our nearest EU neighbour.  This presents real opportunities to further strengthen economic ties between our two countries. I know that Enterprise Ireland has plans to organise a series of events in France in 2021 which will provide opportunities for French companies to discover Ireland’s innovation capability and entrepreneurship. I look forward to hearing of more success stories, similar to today’s, as Irish/ French trade and investment links are further strengthened over the coming year.”

The Best French Company Award was presented to Jêrome Rieux of Groupe Adéquat, a privately owned Human Resources company, founded in 1987 in Lyon. Groupe Adéquat entered the Irish market in 2018 with the acquisition of Sigmar Recruitment, in turn creating one of the most respected global staffing groups in the world. The company employs 150 staff in Ireland.

The Best Irish Company in France Award was presented to Cedric Bruge of Kingspan Global.  Kingspan is recognised for its strong growth, both organically and via acquisitions, in the French market across its various brands and products. A world leader in the building envelope with its environmentally beneficial products.

The special jury award for Franco-Irish Business ‘Rising Star’ was presented to Pierre-Yves Champagne of Co-assist, for their innovative connected watch for the elderly.

The high calibre of candidates across all three categories was recognised by the jury chaired by Eoin Scott (Motherboard) and composed of Claire Tobin Mercier (Senior Market Advisor, Enterprise Ireland, France), Pauline Tapié (Trade Advisor, Business France Ireland), Kate Solovieva (Vice President, Financial Services - Europe, IDA Ireland), Paul De Vos (Chef du Service Economique, Ambassade de France en Irlande), Paul Regan (Group Treasurer, Smurfit Kappa), Donal O’Riain (Founder and Managing Director, Ecocem, Ireland), Monica MacLaverty (Manager Southern Europe, Tourism Ireland, Ireland), Joanne Grant (Managing Director, JCDecaux, Ireland) and Gillian Quinn de Shonen (Managing Director, Zumo, France).

The 2020 Ireland France Business Awards were organised with the valued support of EirGrid.

The 2021 Business Awards ceremony will take place in Dublin next November.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANISERS

NETWORKIRLANDE

NetworkIrlande is a dynamic business network based in Paris dedicated to French and Irish companies and professionals whose goal is to strengthen economic exchanges between the two countries.

Launched in May 2010, and heir to the longstanding Franco-Irish Chamber (CCIFIRL), NetworkIrlande provides the Franco-Irish business community with good networking opportunities through the organisation of a comprehensive range of activities that appeal to all its members including high-caliber speaker events, business forums & professional development seminars, showcase functions, Annual Business Awards as well as advisory support services.

NetworkIrlande works closely with the Embassy of Ireland and the state agencies, Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia.  The president, Richard Dujardin, is also CEO of ISS France.

NetworkIrlande has a strong bi-lateral relationship with the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce in Ireland.

For more information: www.networkirlande.com

FRANCE IRELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Founded more than 30 years ago, the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce (FICC) is a bilateral organisation that promotes the expansion of trade and business between Ireland and France. It is the third largest bilateral trade association in Ireland with 170 member companies and is represented by over 200 senior French and Irish executives.

The Chamber provides a range of business services and networking events to encourage and facilitate the establishment of new French companies in Ireland and new Irish companies in France.
 

The President, Margot Slattery, is also Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Sodexo Group.

FICC is part of a network of 126 French Chambers located in 95 countries worldwide with 38,500 members.

FICC works closely with the Embassy of France in Ireland and the Franco-irish business community, including Business France, the French Trade Advisors in Ireland and the current French Ambassador, Vincent Guérend and his team.
 

FICC has a strong bi-lateral relationship with NetworkIrlande and we have been partnering on the Ireland France Business Awards since 2010.