American Chamber presents US Ireland Business Awards at 2024 Annual Dinner 

AmCham presented the 2024 US Ireland Business Awards at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner in The Clayton Burlington Hotel, Dublin last night, in the company of guest of honour Michael McGrath, Minister for Finance.  The awards recognise inspiring individuals, teams and organisations who have strengthened the US-Ireland business, trade and investment relationship in areas including business development, education, research and innovation, and arts and culture and who are committed to sustainable business, inclusion and giving back to the community.  The event was sponsored by EY, BT Ireland and media partner The Irish Times. 

The winners of the 2024 AmCham US Ireland Business Awards are: 

Global Leadership Award - Gerry Kilcommins, former Medtronic Vice President of Global Platform Manufacturing and Medtronic Ireland Country Director  

Global Impact Award – Intel Ireland for Fab24 

Global Community Award – Bank of America for its Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Fund 

About the Global Leadership Award 

This Award is presented to an individual who has had a significant, positive impact on US-Ireland business relations.   

The 2024 winner: For over three decades, Gerry Kilcommins has made significant contributions to US-Ireland relations. Through his innovative and strategic leadership in the medical technology industry and his contribution to business associations and policy issues, he has strengthened the economic and diplomatic ties between the United States and Ireland.   

In previous roles at Medtronic, Gerry has led teams of over 15,000 people globally including more than 4,000 Irish-based employees and 5,000 US-based employees across seven states. Collaboration across Gerry’s network of sites has led to significant advancements in manufacturing and in the use of technologies that have improved patient care and treatment outcomes. These advancements have not only benefited healthcare systems in both the US and Ireland, but under Gerry’s leadership, Medtronic has also demonstrated the ease of cooperation and the complementary innovative strengths of the two countries.  

About the Global Impact Award 

This Award is presented to a team/organisation for a project that has had a significant positive, global or international impact on markets or society.  

The 2024 winner is Intel Ireland for FAB 34.  Officially opened in September 2023, Intel's Fab 34 manufacturing facility has redefined the frontiers of innovation, producing the world's most sophisticated technology with unparalleled complexity in tools and systems.  

Fab 34 is a key player in bolstering Europe's competitive edge in the global semiconductor manufacturing sector. The state-of-the-art facility located in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, is the first in Europe to harness extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) for high-volume manufacturing, a significant leap forward in semiconductor production. 

About the Global Community Award 

This Award is presented to an individual, team or organisation including US MNCs that has had a positive societal/community impact in an area that is aligned with the values of AmCham and our membership.  

The 2024 winner is Bank of America for its Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Fund, a €2.2 million four-year fund created by Bank of America and Rethink Ireland, in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development, which supported a network of charitable and social enterprise organisations focused on providing training, upskilling, work experience, education and other services to disadvantaged women in Ireland, including single-parent women, refugees and women experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.    

Chief Executive of the American Chamber of Commerce, Paul Sweetman said: 

“My congratulations go to our winners tonight. Both the award winners and those shortlisted exemplify the importance of the US-Ireland trade relationship to the Irish economy and society. In 2023, AmCham member companies employed over 378,000 people directly and indirectly, spending €41 billion in the Irish economy. In addition, 500 Irish companies employed 98,000 people across the US, making Ireland the 9th largest source of FDI into the US. 

Ireland remains a highly attractive location for US FDI as the only English-speaking, common-law gateway to the EU. Our pro-enterprise ecosystem, talented workforce and ability to deliver have all been factors in our ability to win US investment. We must continue to protect and develop these competitive advantages to foster an environment for future investment.” 

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath commented 

“I am delighted to attend the AmCham Annual Dinner which is a great opportunity to celebrate the business and cultural ties between our two nations and I pay tribute to AmCham for their consistent advocacy of the importance of this relationship.   

With over 200,000 people directly employed in US firms in Ireland across 950 companies, US investment is a critical part of our economy.  It is very much a two way relationship as over 500 Irish firms have a US presence with close to 100,000 employees.   

As Minister for Finance I am committed to deepening the relationship with our friends in the US based on a spirit of multi-lateral collaboration.”