Business Leaders gathered for a day of networking at the Guaranteed Irish CEO Alumni Event 2024
Guaranteed Irish launched their Sustainability Roadmap
in association with KPMG to members.
Guaranteed Irish hosted its annual CEO Alumni event, bringing together Ireland’s top business leaders for a day of networking, celebration, and forward-thinking discussions on the ever-evolving business landscape. Held at Euronext and hosted by journalist and MC Sarah Carey, the event featured two engaging panels and the much-anticipated launch of the Sustainability Roadmap, in partnership with KPMG, exclusively tailored for Guaranteed Irish members.
The theme, "The Need for Agility in a Fragile Business World," set the tone for an insightful program that underscored the importance of adaptability in today's rapidly shifting economy. The morning opened with a panel discussion, showcasing high-profile leaders from the business and sports world including Gordon D’Arcy, Former Rugby Player, Fiona Mathews, MD of Applegreen and Paul Rellis, CEO of Viatel Technology Group.
Paul Rellis, CEO of Viatel Technology Group, spoke about the importance of creating a strong culture, trusting your executive team, allowing more time to be spent ON a business then IN a business to drive and grow it in the long and short term. This trust in teams and the importance of focusing on ‘We over Me’ to drive the business forward.
Fiona Mathews, Managing Director of Applegreen, shared her insights on growth, saying; “Speed of decision making needs an environment that welcomes failure, this is how we learn and grow, welcoming innovation.’’ On sustainability, Fiona recommends embedding sustainability into every decision, not considering it as a standalone entity.
Gordon D'Arcy, Former Irish Rugby Player, drew parallels between sports and business, saying that agility was always needed with a focus on team work - as no decisions are made in a vacuum on or off the pitch.
The highlight of the afternoon was the official launch of Guaranteed Irish’s Sustainability Roadmap, a comprehensive guide developed with KPMG. This roadmap provides businesses with practical strategies to enhance sustainability, focusing on key areas such as decarbonisation and supply chain due diligence.
During lunch, social commentator Barbara Scully entertained the audience with her witty reflections on the morning’s discussions, adding a light-hearted touch to the day’s agenda.
The event brought industry experts, business leaders, and sustainability advocates to discuss the future of Irish business. Guaranteed Irish continues to champion businesses that prioritise jobs, communities and provenance in a sustainable manner, whether they are homegrown or international businesses, based in Ireland.
For more information on the Sustainability Roadmap or Guaranteed Irish initiatives, visit www.guaranteedirish.ie
