Exceptional Businesses Highlighted at the Irish Motor Industry Awards

The SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in partnership with sponsor Bank of Ireland Finance, took place at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin last night. Oliver Callan announced the accolades in front of over 700 senior Motor Industry figures.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General and Derek McDermott, Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance presented eight award categories in total.

The award winners, adjudicated by an independent panel, operate in all sectors of the Irish Motor Industry. Companies selected demonstrated an award-winning level of excellence and best practice over the last 12 months. A special recognition award, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority, was presented by Ms Moyagh Murdock CEO of the RSA to Professor Denis Cusack of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety in recognition of his work and commitment to road safety.

Category Award Winners were

• Bodyshop of the Year- Accident Repair Centre (ARC) Dublin 24
• Commercial Vehicle Operation of the Year- Rathcoole Commercials VTC Ltd Co. Dublin
• Franchised Sales Operation of the Year - Hutton and Meade Ltd, Dublin 15
• Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year- Colm Quinn BMW Galway, Galway
• Independent Sales Operation of the Year-Green Auto Service, Dublin 18
• Independent Aftersales Operation of the Year- Donnellan Auto Services, Co. Galway
• Motor Factor of the Year- Parts for Cars, Dublin 6 www.partsforcars.ie
• Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year- Hamill’s Rentals Ltd, Co. Westmeath

Before their announcement, SIMI President Gabriel Keane addressed the audience. He remarked how proud he was of the Irish Motor Industry and the significant contribution motor businesses make to the country. Employing thousands of people, collecting billions in tax, investing in business and technology, providing exceptional customer service, all the while carrying all the risks and challenges of business. The President praised the companies who were shortlisted for each of the SIMI Motor Industry Award categories.

Mr. Keane emphasised that we all have a responsibility in preventing global warming. Outlining that the Industry is a critical element in any climate change solution, he called on the Industry to be environmental activists, while at the same time encouraging customers to make the transition from older higher emission cars to lower CO2 be it petrol, diesel or hybrid and indeed zero CO2 emission cars.

In closing, the President remarked on the Industry's goal of renewing the national car fleet, which will progress the Irish car fleet moving towards a cleaner environment. He spoke on the importance of unity and a strong industry voice that will deliver a clear message to the future government on industry’s goals.

Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance commented “Bank of Ireland Finance is delighted to partner with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry Awards for the 6th consecutive year to recognise outstanding achievement and excellence within the Industry. Banking, along with the motor industry continues to see changing attitudes to how our customers do business. Continuing to keep customers at the centre of everything is as important now as ever for our Franchise partners, Dealers and the team at Bank of Ireland Finance.”

LINK TO AWARD WINNER PICTURES

Award Winners Picture Titles

• DSC 6827 Bodyshop of the Year- Accident Repair Centre (ARC) Dublin 24 L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Owen Cullen Proprietor ARC, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6835 Commercial Vehicle Operation of the Year- Rathcoole Commercials VTC Ltd, Co. Dublin L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Paul Cooke Director Rathcoole Commercials VTC Ltd, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6838 Motor Factor of the Year- Parts for Cars, Dublin 6 L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Gary Murphy, George Tohill, Jack Bromowski Parts for Cars, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6844 Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year- Hamill’s Rentals Ltd, Co. Westmeath L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Peter Hamill, Brian Hamill of Hamill’s Rentals Ltd, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6848 Independent Sales Operation of the Year- Green Auto Service, Dublin 18 L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Gregg Moore, Daniel Davies, Marek Sterdas, Green Auto Service, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6851 Independent Aftersales Operation of the Year- Donnellan Auto Services, Co. Galway L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Jude Donnellan, John Donnellan of Donnellan Auto Services, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6859 Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year- Colm Quinn BMW Galway L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Brian Scanlan, Colm Quinn (Director), John Reilly, Vincent Murphy of Colm Quinn BMW, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6864 Franchised Sales Operation of the Year - Hutton and Meade Ltd, Dublin 15 L-R Derek McDermott Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance, Jonathan Meade, Joe Hutton, Nigel Brennan of Hutton and Meade Ltd Gabriel Keane SIMI President, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI
• DSC 6868 Special Recognition Award- L-R Brian Cooke Director General SIMI, Professor Denis Cusack of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Moyagh Murdock CEO Road Safety Authority, Gabriel Keane SIMI President.

Further information contact:

Teresa Noone, SIMI 087 792 8844 /01 6761690  tnoone@simi.ie