Anne Heraty – Keynote Speaker at AAB Leadership Talk

“Back yourself, believe in yourself, believe in your idea.” These are just some of the thoughts shared with business leaders by Cpl Resources plc Chief Executive, Anne Heraty, as keynote speaker at the AAB Annual Leadership Talk. The event was part of the 2017 MLM Management Month initiative, in association with the Ulster University Business School held at the Belfast Campus.

Originally from County Longford, and now based in Dublin, Anne Heraty began her career in Xerox where she was one of Ireland’s first telesales workers. A move to Grafton Recruitment began a 30 year career in this sector and the creation of the now international company Cpl Resources plc.

Anne co-founded Computer Placement Ltd in 1989 with the aim of placing people in IT companies starting up businesses in Ireland. Three years later she was the 100% shareholder and by 1999 CPL Resources plc began trading on both the Irish and London Stock Exchanges. Today the company provides recruitment, staffing and outsourcing services through an international network of 32 offices across nine countries.

During the one hour conversation with broadcaster Gerry Kelly, Anne’s passion for business aligned to a clear set of values was evident as she traced her career from telesales to becoming the first female Chief Executive of an Irish company to float on the stock exchange. “Have no fear of failure. Success and failure are two sides of the same coin,” says Anne. “Both are just experiences and each set different challenges for you.”

Anne’s success in the business world has also been widely recognised by a raft of prestigious awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2006), Business & Finance Business Person of the Year (2014) and Image Business Woman of the Year (2015). In September 2016 she was elected the President of IBEC, the group that represents Irish business.

AAB Holds Onto Top UK Accountancy Employer Award

For the second year running, AAB won the Accountancy Age Top UK Accountancy Employer Award 2016 at the glittering British Accountancy Awards Gala Banquet Ceremony which took place last night (29 November 2016) at the Brewery, in London. In addition, the only Northern Ireland firm to be shortlisted for the British Accountancy Awards, AAB were also highly commended in the prestigious Top 50 Tax Team of the year Award.

The Awards Ceremony, hosted by Jon Culshaw, one of Britain’s leading impressionists attracted upwards of 1,000 guests, including high profile leaders from the UK business and accountancy sectors.

AAB celebrates ‘Investors In People’ accreditation

AAB was among 52 organisations celebrating Investors in People (IIP) accreditation at a presentation ceremony held at Belfast Castle on 30 September. Pictured with Head of Investors in People, Paul Devoy and Northern Ireland Commissioner (UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)) Mark Huddleston are Teresa Campbell and Leanne Foster from AAB.

Paul Devoy, said: “Organisations succeed by realising the potential of their people. The organisations receiving Investors in People accreditation today are proof of that.

“People’s strengths, ambitions and ideas are the engine of success. IIP accreditation signals to customers and employees your commitment to good business and people management excellence.

“If you develop the skills of your employees and improve your employee engagement, success will ultimately follow. Through Investors in People, everything is informed by one principle: good people make a great business.”

Organisations are judged to have achieved IIP standards based on a tried and tested methodology of leading practice and a rigorous process of assessment.

AAB win International Award

AAB won a prestigious AAB International Diamond Award at the recent AAB International Global Gathering Conference Dinner in Bali, Indonesia, in recognition of AAB’s people development achievements and the firm’s contribution to people development within AAB International.

The award was presented at the dinner, by AAB International Chairman Sajjad Akhtar from Singapore to AAB’s Managing Director, Feargal McCormack.

New AAB Balbriggan, Dublin North Office

The former Chartered Accountants practice of Francis J. Woods & Company Limited (15 staff), located in Balbriggan, ten minutes from Dublin airport, has been subsumed into AAB and will operate as the AAB Dublin office.

The combined firm will trade as AAB and have more than 115 people throughout 6 office locations in Northern Ireland and Ireland, and global expertise with local knowledge around the World through the network offices of PKF International.

Francis J. Woods & Company Limited was a very successful, well established and respected general accountancy and business consultancy practice with additional sector expertise in farming and charities. The founder of Francis J. Woods & Company Limited, Joe Woods and all his staff, will continue to be very integral to AAB going forward.

Willie Walsh – Keynote Speaker at AAB Leadership Lecture

IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh was keynote speaker at the AAB Annual Leadership Talk, Management Month initiative held in association with the Ulster University Business School, at the Belfast Campus on Tuesday 9 February 2016.

Originally from Dublin, and now based in London, Willie Walsh began his career as a cadet pilot with Aer Lingus in 1979, subsequently becoming its Chief Executive in October 2001, just as the full impact of the 9/11 terror attacks on the aviation industry was being felt. At the age of 43, in 2005, he joined British Airways as Chief Executive Officer.

International Airlines Group (IAG) was formed in 2011 with Willie Walsh as Chief Executive when British Airways merged with Spanish carrier Iberia. Since then it has acquired bmi, which was integrated into British Airways, Spanish airline Vueling and Aer Lingus. IAG is one of the world’s largest airline groups with 525 aircraft flying to 255 destinations and carrying more than 96 million passengers each year.

During the one hour conversation with broadcaster Gerry Kelly, Willie’s ambition for IAG, his passion for the sector and his relentless work ethic was evident as he traced his career often through very challenging circumstances.