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Western Motors Group announced as one of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies 2024

20th September 2024

Western Motors Group announced as one of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies 2024

Company receives award for the first time

Western Motors Group has been named as one of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies, the leading business awards programme led by Deloitte. The company, which demonstrated superior business performance, was recognised at an awards ceremony in the RDS on Thursday, 19 September.

This year, Deloitte recognised 129 indigenous companies at the awards, representing 28 of the 32 counties across the island of Ireland. The network of companies has a combined turnover of more than €15 billion and provide employment to over 45,000 people across a range of sectors from technology and healthcare to construction.

A thorough judging process precedes the recognition each year, evaluating the entire management team and the business strategy of each company. The judges examine a wide range of areas when assessing Ireland’s top privately-owned businesses, such as a business’ environmental, social and governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy.

The 13 newly qualified companies are: Active8 Solar Energies, Ashdale Care, Coen Steel Limited, Ethos Engineering, MCO, Mergon Group, Mivan, Mowlam Healthcare, S&W Wholesale, Sisk Group, United Hardware, Western Motors Group and Writech. 

Commenting on the award, James McCormack, Managing Director, Western Motors Group said: “What a way to add to the celebrations of our 60th year in business. We are thrilled and honoured to be named one of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies for the first time in 2024. Our team has worked hard in recent years, meeting industry challenges with determination and innovation and tackling market challenges with resilience and strategic foresight.  This recognition is a testament to that team’s dedication and collaboration. As we look ahead, we are more committed than ever to maintaining the high standards that have brought us this far.  Here’s to many more years of growth, success and leadership in our industry. Simon and I express our heartfelt thanks to the incredible WM team.”

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said: “The Irish economic growth story has been extraordinary, and we see this evidenced in the success of Irish indigenous businesses and the confidence shown by Best Managed Companies. Ensuring Ireland’s entrepreneurs and the companies they start get the support they need to grow and scale is crucial.”

About Western Motors Group

Western Motors celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2024, marking six decades of excellence and innovation.  In addition, 2024 also commemorates the remarkable 40-year partnership with Volkswagen. Now a multi-site and multi-brand dealership in the counties of Galway and Louth, the group represents Volkswagen Passenger, Volkswagen Commercial, Skoda, SEAT and CUPRA

About the Best Managed Companies Awards

Ireland’s Best Managed Companies programme, run by Deloitte, promotes and recognises excellence in Irish/Northern Irish owned and managed companies. It is the only awards scheme on the island of Ireland that considers a business’ performance from every perspective. Entrants to the programme will compete for this designation in a rigorous process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.

Programme sponsors are AIB, the UCD Michael Smurfit Business School and the Business Post. For further information, visit www.deloittebestmanaged.ie.

Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets, said: “AIB is proud to be the new lead sponsors of Ireland’s Best Managed companies. One of AIB’s core ambitions is to support Irish companies and their management teams in sustainable growth and development, something which is fully aligned with the goals of the BMC programme.”

A total of 116 companies requalified as a Best Managed Company. 19 of these achieved Gold Standard (four years as a BMC) and 12 achieved Platinum Standard (seven years as a BMC). Fexco won the Family Business Award in association with the Family Business Network.

The members of this year’s judging panel were:

  • Frank Ryan, former Chairman of the Board of IDA Ireland and Chair of BMC judging panel
  • Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets
  • Ellvena Graham OBE, Non-Executive Director & Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland
  • Feargal Mooney, Non-Executive Director and former CEO of Hostelworld
  • Lionel Alexander, Chair Intact Software and Non-Executive Director
  • Orla O’Gorman, Non-Executive Director and former Head of Listing at Euronext
  • Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Business School
  • Sarah Murphy, CEO of Business Post

International History of Best Managed Companies Programme

The Best Managed Companies Programme originated in Canada in 1993, where it has been run successfully ever since and is the country’s leading business awards programme. In addition to Ireland and Canada, the programme is currently run in a total of 48 countries including China, The US, Southeast Asia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Türkiye, Mexico and Chile.

About AIB

AIB Group operates predominantly in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Our shares are quoted on the Irish and London stock exchanges and we are a member of the FTSE4Good Index.  Our brands include AIB, EBS, Haven, Payzone, Goodbody and our joint venutes AIB Merchant Services, Nifti and AIB life.

Whether it is navigating day-to-day life as we adapt to a greener way of living, planning for the future or growing a business, our ambition as a Group is to be at the heart of our customers’ financial lives.

About Deloitte

At Deloitte, we make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, our profession, and in the wider society by delivering the solutions and insights they need to address their most complex business challenges.

As the largest global professional services and consulting network, with approximately 457,000 professionals in more than 150 countries, we bring world-class capabilities and high-quality services to our clients.

In Ireland, Deloitte has approximately 3,000 people providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Our people have the leadership capabilities, experience and insight to collaborate with clients so they can move forward with confidence.

In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte Ireland LLP. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press. Deloitte Ireland LLP is the Ireland affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”). DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL and Deloitte NSE LLP do not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

Car Grades Explained
Grade
Description
Mileage
95% as new condition/100% as new to drive/ min two year warranty
Less than 50,000 km’s
Thoroughly prepared used car/ excellent mechanical condition/ a minimum of 1 year warranty
Less than 120,000 km’s
Reasonable mechanical and cosmetic condition/ a minimum of 6 months warranty
Less than 150,000 km’s
A Part Exchanged/Trade In – only sold on to Trade
N/A
Only applicable to Trade In Self Appraisals – scrapped or sold to Trade where possible
N/A

As our Digital Dealership grows we know that more buyer confidence is needed throughout the online buying process and to assist we have introduced the Western Motors Group Used Car Grading System. The system has been devised to offer more transparency to our customers and to provide an easy guide as to the quality of the used car being sold.