Dunbia’s Executive Director, Jack Dobson has launched the search for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2016. He joined Jeremy Fitch from Invest NI, Sean Duffy, Programme Director EOY and Rob Heron (tax partner, EY in Northern Ireland to launch the 2016 competition in Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the launch, Jack, who won the industry sector of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015, commented: “The EY Entrepreneur of the Year has proven very successful both for me personally and for Dunbia. I have gained an insight into a range of industries across Ireland and built up a very strong network of successful business people who were involved in the process with me. For Dunbia, winning EY Entrepreneur of the Year raised our profile beyond our own agri-food industry and put us on a higher playing field. It has been a tremendous experience.”
Jack has been at the forefront of driving the company forward, linking suppliers and customers to create an integrated supply chain and a long-term, sustainable industry for all. When he won the award in 2015, Anne Heraty, chairperson of the this year’s judging panel, out-lined the judges’ decision: “It was Jack Dobson’s vision that turned a small, family butcher shop, established in 1976, into now the largest meat processing company across the UK and Ireland. With a supplier base of almost 25,000 farmers, Jack is committed to working alongside them to develop a value chain which is sustainable and profitable for all – truly a deserving winner of the Industry EY Entrepreneur of the Year category,” she said.
Jack said at the time: “This award has put a very positive spotlight on the agri-food industry and in particular on meat processing sector. The career opportunities in this industry are immense with excellent potential to develop and progress. I never thought that I would be holding an EY Enterpreneur of the Year Award but here I am. The opportunities are there to be taken within Dunbia and the wider agri-food industry.”
