2019 Honorees
Edmond Scanlon
CEO and Executive Director of Kerry Group plc
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Edmond Scanlon joined Kerry’s Graduate Development Programme in 1996. During his more than 20-year career in the organisation, he has held a range of senior regional and global leadership positions and has been instrumental in growing Kerry’s taste and nutrition businesses in the U.S. and more recently in the Asia-Pacific markets. In October 2017, Edmond was named CEO and Executive Director for Kerry Group and is now leading the company through its next phase of growth as the world’s leading taste and nutrition company. A graduate of University College, Cork, Edmond holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
CEO and Executive Director of Kerry Group plc
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Edmond Scanlon joined Kerry’s Graduate Development Programme in 1996. During his more than 20-year career in the organisation, he has held a range of senior regional and global leadership positions and has been instrumental in growing Kerry’s taste and nutrition businesses in the U.S. and more recently in the Asia-Pacific markets. In October 2017, Edmond was named CEO and Executive Director for Kerry Group and is now leading the company through its next phase of growth as the world’s leading taste and nutrition company. A graduate of University College, Cork, Edmond holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Heather Bresch
Chief Executive Officer, Mylan
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Heather Bresch is CEO of Mylan, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. She also serves on the company’s board of directors. Throughout her more than 25-year career with Mylan, Bresch has held roles of increasing responsibility in more than 15 functional areas, and played a key leadership role in a series of large, transformative acquisitions, which more than doubled Mylan’s size. She now is leading Mylan in its next chapter of sustainable growth. In achieving Mylan’s goals, Bresch is aligning employees behind the company’s mission to deliver high quality medicine to the world’s 7 billion people and create better health for a better world. She emphasizes a collaborative culture focused on leading, learning, teaching and performing. Bresch also is a leader on key industry issues and initiatives aimed at removing barriers to access to medicine.
Chief Executive Officer, Mylan
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Heather Bresch is CEO of Mylan, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. She also serves on the company’s board of directors. Throughout her more than 25-year career with Mylan, Bresch has held roles of increasing responsibility in more than 15 functional areas, and played a key leadership role in a series of large, transformative acquisitions, which more than doubled Mylan’s size. She now is leading Mylan in its next chapter of sustainable growth. In achieving Mylan’s goals, Bresch is aligning employees behind the company’s mission to deliver high quality medicine to the world’s 7 billion people and create better health for a better world. She emphasizes a collaborative culture focused on leading, learning, teaching and performing. Bresch also is a leader on key industry issues and initiatives aimed at removing barriers to access to medicine.
Rose Hynes
Chairman of Shannon Group plc and Chairman of Origin Enterprises plc
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Rose Hynes is Chairman of Shannon Group plc since 2012.Shannon Group is owned by the Irish Government and includes Shannon Airport, Shannon Free Zone and Shannon Heritage. Rose is also Chairman of Origin Enterprises plc, a leading agri services group listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchanges and which has businesses in Ireland, UK, Continental Europe and LATAM. Rose is one of only two women currently chairing an Irish Stock Exchange listed company. She is also the Senior Independent Director at Total Produce plc which is listed on the Irish & London Stock Exchanges. Total Produce is one of the world’s largest fresh produce producers and providers and is the owner of a 45% interest in the US company, Dole. She is also a Non-Executive Director the board of IPL Plastics plc which gained admission to the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2018. Additionally Rose is a Non-Executive Director of Irish Telecoms company, Eir and a number of aviation companies.. Rose is a member of the Governing Authority of University of Limerick and a member of its Foundation Board. She isalso an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Limerick. Rose also sits on the Commercial Board of Munster Rugby. Rose is a University College Dublin law graduate and a lawyer, Rose Hynes is also an Associate of the Irish Institute of Taxation and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Rose has had a very varied career to-date. Initially, she worked in the area of corporate tax including with the European Commission in Brussels. Subsequently, she became a partner in an Irish law firm. She later joined Tony Ryan’s GPA Group plc in Shannon. GPA was then the largest aircraft leasing company in the world. Rose was a member of the senior management team in GPA for many years. Rose is also a former Chairman of Bord Gais and a former Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ireland, Fyffes plc, Concern and Aer Lingus. She has also won several business awards. Rose has a keen interest in sport and is a former Irish interprovincial squash player. She played over many years firstly for Connaught and then for Munster. Rose Hynes is a native of Co Clare and currently lives in Limerick with her husband and two children.
Chairman of Shannon Group plc and Chairman of Origin Enterprises plc
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Rose Hynes is Chairman of Shannon Group plc since 2012.Shannon Group is owned by the Irish Government and includes Shannon Airport, Shannon Free Zone and Shannon Heritage. Rose is also Chairman of Origin Enterprises plc, a leading agri services group listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchanges and which has businesses in Ireland, UK, Continental Europe and LATAM. Rose is one of only two women currently chairing an Irish Stock Exchange listed company. She is also the Senior Independent Director at Total Produce plc which is listed on the Irish & London Stock Exchanges. Total Produce is one of the world’s largest fresh produce producers and providers and is the owner of a 45% interest in the US company, Dole. She is also a Non-Executive Director the board of IPL Plastics plc which gained admission to the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2018. Additionally Rose is a Non-Executive Director of Irish Telecoms company, Eir and a number of aviation companies.. Rose is a member of the Governing Authority of University of Limerick and a member of its Foundation Board. She isalso an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Limerick. Rose also sits on the Commercial Board of Munster Rugby. Rose is a University College Dublin law graduate and a lawyer, Rose Hynes is also an Associate of the Irish Institute of Taxation and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Rose has had a very varied career to-date. Initially, she worked in the area of corporate tax including with the European Commission in Brussels. Subsequently, she became a partner in an Irish law firm. She later joined Tony Ryan’s GPA Group plc in Shannon. GPA was then the largest aircraft leasing company in the world. Rose was a member of the senior management team in GPA for many years. Rose is also a former Chairman of Bord Gais and a former Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ireland, Fyffes plc, Concern and Aer Lingus. She has also won several business awards. Rose has a keen interest in sport and is a former Irish interprovincial squash player. She played over many years firstly for Connaught and then for Munster. Rose Hynes is a native of Co Clare and currently lives in Limerick with her husband and two children.
Mervyn Greene
Group Managing Director of cbq Dublin and Director of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Mervyn Greene is a serial entrepreneur who is currently based in Cork, after working all over the world for 30 years. Born in Zambia and educated in Ireland, Mervyn worked for Morgan Stanley in New York, Hong Kong, and latterly London after graduating from Trinity in Maths and Engineering. After acquiring an MBA at the London Business School, Mervyn formed a boutique venture capital and private equity company, which founded, co-funded, or invested in a number of diverse businesses based in Africa, the UK, Ireland and Australia over the years. Two of the companies were subsequently listed on the London and Australian stock exchanges, one of which, Deep Yellow Limited, is still going strong. In 2013 Neville Isdell purchased The chq Building (CHQ) - a massive, iconic, and important Georgian maritime warehouse located in Dublin’s financial district at George’s Dock, close to the Customs House. Mervyn is now directing a multi-year plan to bring it back to life as well as helping to develop the surrounding area. The jewel in the crown of that strategy is EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (EPIC), which opened in mid-2016 and which Mervyn ran as Museum Director. EPIC is a truly 21st century museum and uses digital technology to create an immersive, interactive story-telling experience that has captivated, educated and entertained many hundreds of thousands of visitors in its short life so far. EPIC has also won numerous awards in the cultural/historical, educational and tourism sectors, making it truly unique in Dublin and Ireland. Mervyn is a non-executive director of a number of companies and is the co-founder and Chairman of Dogpatch Labs 2.0, Ireland’s premier start-up hub for scaling Tech companies, which is also based in CHQ. Mervyn recently chaired the Trinity College Steering Group that over four years designed, financed and built the new €80m TCD Business School.
Group Managing Director of cbq Dublin and Director of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Recipient of the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award
Mervyn Greene is a serial entrepreneur who is currently based in Cork, after working all over the world for 30 years. Born in Zambia and educated in Ireland, Mervyn worked for Morgan Stanley in New York, Hong Kong, and latterly London after graduating from Trinity in Maths and Engineering. After acquiring an MBA at the London Business School, Mervyn formed a boutique venture capital and private equity company, which founded, co-funded, or invested in a number of diverse businesses based in Africa, the UK, Ireland and Australia over the years. Two of the companies were subsequently listed on the London and Australian stock exchanges, one of which, Deep Yellow Limited, is still going strong. In 2013 Neville Isdell purchased The chq Building (CHQ) - a massive, iconic, and important Georgian maritime warehouse located in Dublin’s financial district at George’s Dock, close to the Customs House. Mervyn is now directing a multi-year plan to bring it back to life as well as helping to develop the surrounding area. The jewel in the crown of that strategy is EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (EPIC), which opened in mid-2016 and which Mervyn ran as Museum Director. EPIC is a truly 21st century museum and uses digital technology to create an immersive, interactive story-telling experience that has captivated, educated and entertained many hundreds of thousands of visitors in its short life so far. EPIC has also won numerous awards in the cultural/historical, educational and tourism sectors, making it truly unique in Dublin and Ireland. Mervyn is a non-executive director of a number of companies and is the co-founder and Chairman of Dogpatch Labs 2.0, Ireland’s premier start-up hub for scaling Tech companies, which is also based in CHQ. Mervyn recently chaired the Trinity College Steering Group that over four years designed, financed and built the new €80m TCD Business School.
Kevin M. Schmiegel
Lieutenant Colonel, USMC (Ret.) and Chief Executive Officer of Operation Gratitude
Recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life Award
Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel is the CEO of Operation Gratitude, whose mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder Heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. Since 2003, Operation Gratitude has mobilized millions of volunteers nationwide and delivered more than 2.3 million Care Packages to deployed Service Members, to their children left behind, and to First Responders, New Recruit Graduates, Veterans, Wounded Heroes, and their Caregivers. Schmiegel’s role is to oversee strategic planning and build national partnerships to further Operation Gratitude’s reach as a preeminent military support organization while expanding hands-on volunteerism to help bridge the civilian-service divide in communities across America. Prior to Operation Gratitude, Lieutenant Colonel Schmiegel founded Hiring Our Heroes – a nationwide grassroots campaign run through the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment in hundreds of cities across America. Since its inception, Hiring Our Heroes has held more than 1,000 job fairs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and on military installations overseas. To date, more than 500,000 of our nation’s heroes have been hired as a result of the program. After Hiring Our Heroes, Schmiegel was a Vice President of Corporate Relations at the US Chamber where he developed membership opportunities with CEOs and senior executives of domestic and international companies and secured their leadership participation on issues facing the business community. He went on to serve as the first-ever President of Thanks USA, expanding the scope of its mission from providing post-secondary, need-based scholarships to military spouses and children to include Pathways for Patriots, an innovative program to provide meaningful employment for the scholars upon graduation. LtCol Schmiegel is a Class of 1989 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel after 20 years on active duty. In addition to an early combat tour to Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Schmiegel served as the principal adviser to the NATO commander from 2003-2006, deploying to over 50 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Schmiegel also wrote the strategic plans for NATO’s training mission in Iraq, its increased presence in Afghanistan, and disaster relief operations for Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan. In 2008, Schmiegel served as the military assistant to the special envoy for Middle East Regional Security and deployed to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where he worked with Israeli and Palestinian authorities on the peace process. Kevin lives in Arlington Virginia with his wife Laura. When he is not working, he focuses all of his time and energy on their five children and two dogs.
Lieutenant Colonel, USMC (Ret.) and Chief Executive Officer of Operation Gratitude
Recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life Award
Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel is the CEO of Operation Gratitude, whose mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder Heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. Since 2003, Operation Gratitude has mobilized millions of volunteers nationwide and delivered more than 2.3 million Care Packages to deployed Service Members, to their children left behind, and to First Responders, New Recruit Graduates, Veterans, Wounded Heroes, and their Caregivers. Schmiegel’s role is to oversee strategic planning and build national partnerships to further Operation Gratitude’s reach as a preeminent military support organization while expanding hands-on volunteerism to help bridge the civilian-service divide in communities across America. Prior to Operation Gratitude, Lieutenant Colonel Schmiegel founded Hiring Our Heroes – a nationwide grassroots campaign run through the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment in hundreds of cities across America. Since its inception, Hiring Our Heroes has held more than 1,000 job fairs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and on military installations overseas. To date, more than 500,000 of our nation’s heroes have been hired as a result of the program. After Hiring Our Heroes, Schmiegel was a Vice President of Corporate Relations at the US Chamber where he developed membership opportunities with CEOs and senior executives of domestic and international companies and secured their leadership participation on issues facing the business community. He went on to serve as the first-ever President of Thanks USA, expanding the scope of its mission from providing post-secondary, need-based scholarships to military spouses and children to include Pathways for Patriots, an innovative program to provide meaningful employment for the scholars upon graduation. LtCol Schmiegel is a Class of 1989 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel after 20 years on active duty. In addition to an early combat tour to Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Schmiegel served as the principal adviser to the NATO commander from 2003-2006, deploying to over 50 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Schmiegel also wrote the strategic plans for NATO’s training mission in Iraq, its increased presence in Afghanistan, and disaster relief operations for Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan. In 2008, Schmiegel served as the military assistant to the special envoy for Middle East Regional Security and deployed to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where he worked with Israeli and Palestinian authorities on the peace process. Kevin lives in Arlington Virginia with his wife Laura. When he is not working, he focuses all of his time and energy on their five children and two dogs.
Event Location & Date
Thursday, October 10, 2019The Plaza Hotel, 768 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
Attire: Black Tie
Reception: 6:30 pm, Dinner: 7:30 pm