Guaranteed Irish calls for urgent need to reward entrepreneurs and strengthen Ireland’s pro-business environment.
The Guaranteed Irish CEO Alumni event took place in Euronext Dublin on 19th November, titled Local Leadership, Driving Global Change.
The event created a space to discuss pressing matters such as enhancing competitive measures and developing an environment for Irish businesses to scale smarter, innovate faster and lead responsibly at pace. Gene Murtagh, CEO of Kingspan Group Plc, spoke about how their business diversifies quickly with a ‘flat and fast’ approach to getting decisions made internally while holding their HQ in Ireland.
The opening panel hosted by MC Dearbhail McDonald, author, journalist and broadcaster featured Aine Kerr, Digital Entrepreneur, Gene Murtagh, CEO, Kingspan Group Plc, Francie Gorman President, Irish Farmers’ Association, and Robert Kelly, Director of Economics and Statistics, Central Bank of Ireland.
Áine Kerr spoke on the impact of generative AI, noting that strong leadership, authenticity and agility are essential for global competitiveness. She emphasised trust as the most valuable leadership currency—aligning with research showing that 90% of consumers recognise the Guaranteed Irish symbol as a mark of trust and provenance.
Robert Kelly outlined cost pressures facing SMEs and scaling firms, noting that many Irish businesses continue to seek US capital. He highlighted the need for an enhanced domestic investment environment to retain and grow scaling companies in Ireland.
Reflecting on Kingspan’s global success, Gene Murtagh described how change, adaptability and the ability to pivot have become embedded in the company’s culture, enabling continuous innovation across more than 80 countries. He identified risk-taking, ambition and structured innovation pathways as key drivers of long-term competitiveness.
Francie Gorman discussed opportunities and challenges in Ireland’s agri-food sector, noting that 90% of Irish produce is exported. He referenced significant pressures facing farmers—including the recent gathering of more than 2,000 farmers at Corrin Mart on nitrates derogation—and highlighted the need for cohesive national planning and support for the next generation of farmers.
Private Equity v’s listing with Euronext were discussed and how owners of Irish businesses should be able to reap the rewards of their hard work, through new tax incentives that allows the entrepreneur to ‘take money off the table’ whilst committing to retaining their HQ and IP in Ireland.
Supporting Business that Supports Ireland