Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine named Cork Chamber Company of the Year
J&J IM general manager Dana Daneshvari collecting the Cork Company of the Year award at the Cork Chamber annual dinner in City Hall, with Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy; director of people, operations & governance Naoimh Frawley; and president Rob Horgan, and Edwina McDonnell Dawson, Vodafone Ireland. Picture: Darragh Kane
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (J&J IM) was named Company of the Year at Cork Chamber’s annual dinner in Cork City Hall on Friday.
The company, which marks 20 years in Cork this year, has a 1,200-strong workforce located in Ringaskiddy where they produce a range of medicines, mainly for immunology and oncology patients. Over the past two decades, the company has worked to build its manufacturing capabilities and enhance its capacity.
• J&J IM was also named International category winner at Friday night’s awards attended by more than 1,000 business leaders.
• Keohane Seafoods was named the Large Company category winner.
• National Beauty Distribution was named the SME category winner, and
• Ground Wellbeing won the Emerging category.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivered the keynote speech at the awards sponsored by Vodafone and media partner the .
J&J IM general manager Dana Daneshvari said they were incredibly honoured to be named the overall winner.
“Our success is driven by an exceptional team, both past and present, whose dedication and expertise have made our site a centre of excellence in biopharmaceutical manufacturing,” he said.
“We remain committed to innovation, sustainability and improving patients’ lives worldwide.”
In his address, Cork Chamber president Rob Horgan said Cork and Ireland can look forward to change and growth in the next five years under a new Government and that this change should include an increase in pace, an increase in regional focus, and an increase in delivery.
He specifically spoke of Cork’s role as a future energy hub.
“At our fingertips is the opportunity for Cork Harbour to be Ireland’s first energy park,” he said.
“With the ambition, will, and the right action taken, we can harness the assets that we have to ensure that they are fit for the energy revolution — the energy revolution that is essential for Ireland to meet its climate targets, and the energy revolution that will power our sustainable economic growth.
“If we don’t make a priority of aligning the policies and funding, the ambition and the action, the greatest opportunity of our generation will be lost.”
Mr Horgan outlined the ‘enabling infrastructure’ essential for Cork to power Ireland’s future prosperity as port infrastructure, alongside other key infrastructural constraints, including housing supply, water infrastructure, cultural, educational and childcare services, and transport.
“In parallel, while delivering the many physical and perhaps sometimes the more spoken-about infrastructural projects that our region so greatly needs, we must also invest in the soul and character of our region,” he said.
Mr Horgan is a strong advocate for the enhancement and rejuvenation of Cork’s urban landscapes.
“Investing in these spaces is essential to making Cork a place where people and businesses want to be.
“Safe, green, accessible and vibrant spaces enhance quality of life, attract talent and importantly, they fuel economic growth.”
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