12/10/2026
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀.
More than 160 colleagues gathered at the weekend for our second annual Finnebrogue People Awards, recognising the individuals and teams who go above and beyond every day to drive our business forward.
The celebration was opened by Melissa Mackey, Head of HR, who reflected on another year of growth, innovation and achievement, while recognising the resilience, commitment and shared purpose demonstrated by colleagues across every area of the business.
The evening concluded with Joe Stranney, Regional Director, presenting the prestigious Employee of the Year Award to Philip Woods, Head of Hygiene - recognised for his exceptional contribution, leadership and commitment to Finnebrogue over the last nine years.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀:
https://www.finnebrogue.com/finnebrogue-celebrates-excellence-at-annual-people-awards/
𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Tsanyo Atanasov
Highly Commended: Pawel Ropiak
𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻
Winner: Gary McIlhone
Highly Commended: Ross Murray
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Amy Irvine
𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Lauris Bergmanis
High Commended: Daina Kazlauskiene
𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻
Winner: Sean Kearney
𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Paul Lavery
𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻
Winner: Regina Vencke
𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Aaron Beattie
𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Robert Cochrane
𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Aine Burns
𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻
Winner: Alina Pavel
𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿
Winner: Vaeceslav Guzan
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Winner: Eleonora Mercuta
𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀
Winner: TJ Brown
Highly Commended: Gheorghe Stan
𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿
Winner: McKenzie McCarthy-Russell
𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 – recognised for collaborating cross-functionally to building a stronger Finnebrogue under Sofina
Finance team
𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿
Winner: Philip Woods, Head of Hygiene
Highly Commended: Anthea McAuley, Communications Manager
Huge thanks to Dave and Thomas at Journey Community Church Downpatrick for their amazing venue and AV support, and to Downpatrick Cricket Club 1849 and AdRi Ventures for the outstanding Indian food buffet and catering! ❤️