Directors honoured at business awards

Directors honoured at business awards

6 June 2018

TWO leading local business representatives have been recognised at this year’s Northern Ireland Institute of Directors annual awards.

Downpatrick’s Denis Lynn, who heads up the award-winning Finnebrogue Artisan, was presented with the Director of the Year for Innovation award, while Joanne Molloy, from TS Foods in Castlewellan, received a special recognition award after being shortlisted in the Family Business Director of the Year category.

Sponsored by First Trust Bank, Mr Lynn was presented with his award after his firm launched a revolutionary new Naked Bacon product made without nitrates. 

The invention, which was formally launched at the start of the year, has been highly acclaimed by leading industry experts. It is the UK’s first ever mass produced bacon made without cancer causing chemicals.

It is believed the new naked bacon range will help Finnebrogue Artisan achieve a £100m turnover by next year, with judges praising Denis for creating a “truly unique selling point for his organisation.”

The various awards were handed over during a glittering ceremony at Belfast’s Merchant Hotel where winners across 11 categories were announced, each of whom will now be considered for the UK Director of the Year Awards, taking place in London later this year.

The annual Northern Ireland awards seek to honour directors who go above and beyond to show exceptional levels of leadership and motivation and demonstrate good corporate governance.  

Mr Lynn said it is great to be recognised as Northern Ireland’s most innovative director at the Industry of Directors awards. 

“A lot of hard work has gone into taking delicious nitrite-free bacon from a dream into a reality.  While Finnebrogue has been making sausages without nitrites for some time, I was on a mission to find a solution that would take these dangerous chemicals out of bacon and ham,” he explained.

“We have been overwhelmed by the incredible reaction to Naked Bacon from customers across the country and I am very proud of my entire company for stepping up to the plate and filling a gaping hole in the UK market.”

Joanne was presented with her highly commended award due to the standard of her entry which reflected her outstanding contribution to the company over the past 12 months.

‘It was truly humbling to be nominated and shortlisted for an award in the first place, but to receive this special recognition on the day was amazing,” she said.

“This award is a reflection of not just my efforts, but those of the whole management team at TS Foods. We pride ourselves in taking a proactive approach to leadership and business growth and I am delighted  that this has been recognised.”

The IoD’s Northern Ireland chairman, Gordon Milligan, congratulated Denis, Joanne and the other winners and said encouraging exceptional standards of management and a commitment to good corporate governance was at the heart of the organisation’s work.

“The Director of the Year Awards act as a benchmark to local organisations and showcases the immense talent and leadership of our business leaders,” he continued. “I’d like to congratulate all winners and those directors that were shortlisted and wish them each continued success for the future.”