Business 100 Honorees Celebrated in Style

Irish America magazine honored the best and brightest Irish-American and Irish-born leaders, representing some of the world’s most innovative and influential companies and corporations at the Metropolitan Club in New York City on Monday, December 16, 2024.

Helen Doody, Managing Director and Head of Abbey Capital (US), and Brian Ruane, Senior Executive Vice President, BNY served as Keynote Speakers, representing the 100 honorees, 61 of whom were in attendance on the night.

In welcoming the honorees, Patricia Harty, editor and co-founder of the four-decade-old magazine, said: “We are delighted to honor you for your hard work and your commitment. You really are shining lights representing Ireland and Irish heritage, not just here in New York but on the world stage. You are extraordinary. Not least of all, our Keynote speakers, Helen Doody and Brian Ruane.”

In addition to the honorees, many of whom brought their families, guests included Sonja Hyland, the Deputy Secretary General of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Consul General Helena Nolan, former Ambassador to the U.S. Anne Anderson, and philanthropist Loretta Brennan Glucksman, who has worked tirelessly to establish strong ties between America and the island of Ireland and is the founder of Glucksman Ireland House at NYU. 

Dennis Brownlee, the founder of the African American Irish Diaspora Network, was also in attendance, as were former Keynotes Jim O’Donnell of Citi Bank and Kevin McLaughlin of Merrill Lynch.

And what’s an Irish event without music? Niamh Hyland and her ever-talented multi-instrumentalist, Mr. Shu Nakamura, kicked off the party with “Ireland is my Home.”

For many years, Niamh Hyland has performed at Irish America’s events, and this year, her sister, Maggie Hyland, the President of North America for SompoRe, was included as an honoree.

Irish America’s publisher Niall O’Dowd reminded the guests that on occasions like this, we honor the memories and struggles of previous generations. Editor Harty emphasized this point when she called the honorees together for a group photograph, saying that in 100 years, some student of history would come upon the image and see that this was where the Irish in America story and journey was at in 2024.

Harty also reminded the audience of publisher Niall O’Dowd’s role in the Irish peace process and his effort seeking immigration reform.

Deputy Secretary General Hyland congratulated the honorees and the Irish America team and discussed how Irish-founded companies are impacting the US corporate scene.

One such company is Abbey Capital, founded in Dublin in 2000.

Keynote Speaker Helen Doody set up Abbey Capital US in 2008. A UCD graduate, Helen has lived in the US since 2006, when she moved here for her husband Derek’s job with the Bank of Ireland. Eighteen years later, the couple calls Connecticut home. Their three sons, Gavin, J.J., and Christian, were in attendance, as was Helen’s mother, Claire, who flew in from Dublin especially for the occasion.

Helen talked about her journey as a woman starting her career in a male-dominated field – she was the one female with 60 male traders – and the importance of diversity in the workplace.  She also talked about her love of American basketball and Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls (as a youngster, she would get up at 3 a.m. Irish time to watch games), and how basketball brought home to her the importance of hard work and teamwork.  She also touched on the subject of how hard it is to find a work-life balance as a mom with young children – scheduling time to coach her son’s basketball team for two straight years, and help out with other charitable causes – all the while helping to grow Abbey’s US presence and portfolio to over 7.5 billion dollars. Her inspiring remarks received thunderous applause and the night’s first standing ovation.

An industry leader in financial services, Brian’s remarks covered market structure, digital assets, the Federal Reserve, and tri-party repo. He gave a concise and clear picture of the present and future aspects of the financial markets, the recent introduction of global 24-hour money transfers, including weekends and holidays, the critical thinking and analytical skills in the competitive world of business strategy, and the importance of mentorship – both in being a mentor, and, as you rise to upper leadership management, having your own mentor. 

America’s oldest bank is steeped in tradition, relentlessly modern and technology-enabled, and Brian’s valuable take on what the future holds and his keen understanding of economics in financial accounting, was much appreciated by the audience, who gave him a standing ovation, and in particular the honorees who are making their own way in the economic and business worlds.

Brian was joined by his wife, Anna, and three of their four children. Three are attending college, and one is a recent graduate who has just begun her professional career in New York. 

Many of the honorees had traveled to New York to attend the event. Honoree Phil Gaughran’s parents, Ann and Patrick, and honorees Darragh McCarthy, Jac Dunne, and Dee Ahearn, traveled over from Ireland.

Conor Looney flew in from Florida, Kevin McCarty from Baltimore, Ted Sullivan from Atlanta, Kevin McManus from Dallas, and Brian Cullen from Newport Beach, CA. Several honorees arrived from Connecticut, including David Glidden, CEO of Liberty Bank. Honorees from Boston included Colette and Michael Quinlin, James Rooney, Kathleen McQuade Ellmore, and Mary Sugrue. 

As the CEO of the Irish-American Partnership, Sugrue received a special mention from Brian Ruane in his remarks. Brian serves on the board of the Partnership, and he gave credit to the organization for its focus on young leaders. Irish America’s Co-founder/Editor Harty also mentions the Partnership’s work, highlighting its concentration on national schools in Ireland. “The Partnership is doing so much to ensure that Ireland’s young people have all the tools they need for the future,” she said.

Meghan McEvoy and James Coleman, two nominees from a previous Business 100 honoree, Jim Houlihan, brought along

40 friends and relatives to celebrate, and several honorees brought their children to celebrate their awards night. As honoree Kevin McManus said, “This is my chance to remind them of the people they come from.”

This year’s honorees give generously of their time working with charitable organizations and on projects that are important to them, including the Tower to Tunnels Foundation, Project Children, Barettstown, whose CEO Dee Ahearn, was honored, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Sovereign Order of Malta to name just a few.

Echoing Helen Doody’s remarks on the importance of “the team,” Harty thanked America’s VP of Sales and Special Events, Mary Cucinell, for her outstanding job in working with the honorees, Emily Moriarty for her work on Irish America’s archives, and Carla Capone and others who helped to make sure the evening ran smoothly.

Thanks also went out to the staff and Maitre d at the Metropolitan Club, Fry Printers in PA, Rich and Doug, Santa Bob, who drove through heavy rainfall to get the magazines to the event on time, and photographer James Higgins, who recorded the evening for posterity. 

Niamh and Shu closed out the formal part of the evening with more songs as the guests moved on to the reception for dessert, coffee, cocktails, and more chat.

Thanks to all who bought tickets and purchased tables.

Special thanks to: SPONSORS

Northwell Health, Invest Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland, The Ireland Funds, CIE Tours, and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs. 

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES HIGGINS 

2024 Business 100 Honorees

Dee Ahearn

Antoinette Behan

Paul Boskind

Elaine Brennan

James Brett

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To learn about Irish America’s Business 100 honorees throughout the years visit the Business 100 page.