A Downpatrick woman is one of nine business leaders from Northern Ireland to have been handpicked by the Institute of Directors to represent the region in the celebrated UK finals of the Director of the Year Awards in London.
Earlier this year, Tracy Hamilton of Mash Direct, located in Comber, won the Small Medium Enterprise category at the IoD NI Director of the Year Awards, sponsored by insurance brokers, Abbey Bond Lovis.
Tracy established Mash Direct with her husband Martin, after they decided to diversify their farm business by adding value to the produce they were growing. Ten years on, Mash Direct is a flourishing farming and food production enterprise which is the market leader in quality, convenient vegetable and potato dishes, and is still family owned and run.
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Tracy Hamilton, selected for the IoD final in London.[/caption]
As the first woman to sit on the Board of NIFDA (Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association) and also a Board member of Food NI, Tracy is passionate about promoting local food. Tracy studied Business Studies at the University of Ulster and is a descendent of the famous Mackie’s engineering family.
After careful consideration, the IoD selectors shortlisted each of the high calibre regional winners to the final nine to compete for the top prize in the prestigious UK finals of the Director of the Year Awards in London on 24 October.
As Director of Mash Direct, Tracy Hamilton majors on the marketing operations of the Company and controls all administrative aspects.
Along with her husband Martin, Tracy identified a niche in the convenience food market and founded Mash Direct in 2003. The company now supplies thirty different products internationally from their Comber headquarters, employing more than 100 members of staff and enjoying a turnover of £11 million.
Tracy Hamilton has been shortlisted for the Mid-Market Company Director of the Year category along with local businessman Brendan Mullan, from Bryson Charitable Group.
Seven more candidates from Northern Ireland have also been shortlisted for a UK award in each of their given fields.
IoD NI Chairman, Paul Terrington, congratulated each of the finalists:
“It’s a delight to see so many inspiring business leaders, who represent such a vast range of local industries and sectors, shortlisted for the UK finals of the Director of the Year Awards.
“The number of local Directors shortlisted for these awards is almost double that of last year, which is hugely encouraging in that more and more of our home-grown, local directors are of high enough calibre to rival their counterparts across the water.
“I wish each and every one of the shortlisted candidates success at the ceremony in October.”
Broadcaster and former high profile politician Michael Portillo will host the Awards on Friday 24 October at the Lancaster London Hotel.
The Institute of Directors (IoD) is a non-party political organisation representing the views of around 35,000 individual business leaders in the UK with almost 800 members in Northern Ireland. Members are drawn from the private, public and voluntary sectors. www.iodni.com/events Twitter @IoDNI www.mashdirect.com ]]>
