Sligo Chamber Announce Business Person of the Year 2013
Sligo Chamber is pleased to announce that Jim O’Regan, Site Director of AbbVie Ireland, is the Business Person of the Year 2013. Sponsored by Collins McNicholas, the Business Person of the Year Award is Sligo Chamber’s salute to a business person for their contribution to Sligo’s economic development.
AbbVie Ireland has two operations in Sligo – a pharmaceutical and a medical device facility which employs more than 200 personnel combined. Jim O’Regan leads the Pharmaceutical Operation based at Manorhamilton Road. This fully licensed, high containment facility for the manufacture of a wide range of pharmaceuticals has undergone a significant expansion, in the past year, doubling the site footprint and adding a further 100 employees to support new product introductions. AbbVie employs a highly-skilled workforce specialising in the disciplines of science and engineering and 80% have a 3rd level education qualification ranging from degree to PhD levels. The site led by Mr O’Regan is a strategic asset in the AbbVie network due to its involvement in new product development and commercial manufacturing.
AbbVie in Sligo makes a noteworthy contribution to the local economy. It sources a significant quantity of goods and services from vendors in Sligo and runs a number of corporate social responsibility volunteering events which benefit worthy causes in the locality. At its peak, AbbVie’s expansion created at more than 200 construction jobs in the local area.
Jim has in excess of 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical sector. During his career he has held a number of key leadership positions in pharmaceutical quality and operations roles in Ireland, the UK, the USA and, prior to taking up his role in Sligo, in Puerto Rico. He holds a Masters in Pharmaceutical Science along with several other business qualifications and is a graduate of NUI Galway and Brighton University.
President of Sligo Chamber, Trevor McDaid is delighted that Jim O’Regan is honoured as Business Person of the Year 2013, commenting that “Jim and his team at AbbVie continue to demonstrate the fact that Sligo is an ideal home to world leading companies using highly sophisticated technology in combination with a great array of professional expertise that exists within its Sligo workforce. Its plans for future development are testament to the skills and quality of its personnel and serve as a wonderful signpost to other FDI companies considering the North West of Ireland as a location to invest and do business”.
Jim will be presented with the Business Person Award at the Sligo Chamber Annual Dinner Dance next Saturday 9th November by main sponsor of the event, Niall Murray, General Manager of Collins McNicholas. Niall Murray commented “We are proud to be members of Sligo Chamber since we set up in Sligo 15 years ago and are delighted to sponsor this year’s Annual Dinner. We would like to congratulate Jim O’Regan on his award as Business Person of the Year and feel it is due recognition for the significant investment in AbbVie Sligo and we wish Jim and his team continued success into the future”
Sligo Chamber together with Collins McNicholas looks forward to officially recognising Jim’s achievements at the Annual Dinner in the Clarion Hotel with guest Speaker a Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD.