Wilsons Auctions honoured as Platinum Award Winners in Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies for a 15th Consecutive Year

Wilsons Auctions has been named as one of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies, the leading business awards programme led by Deloitte. The company, which has demonstrated superior business performance for fifteen years, was recognised at an awards ceremony in the RDS on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

A thorough judging process precedes the recognition each year, evaluating the entire management team and the business strategy of each company. The judges examine a wide range of areas when assessing Ireland’s top privately-owned businesses, such as a business’ environmental, social and governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy.

In the 2023 – 2024 financial year Wilsons Auctions was able to highlight an annual hammer total in excess of £500 million and demonstrated superior business practice focused on continuous growth and expand its offering, ensuring that it is meeting the needs of both its vendors and purchasers alike.

As a result of an ever-growing client portfolio, both locally and internationally, Wilsons Auctions hosts over 3,200 auctions annually, including property, vehicles, plant and machinery and also specialist equipment, general goods and high-end valuables.

The auction company also manages the asset realisation process for private and public sector as well as law enforcement agencies, dealing with the collection, valuation, and auctioning of assets on behalf of its extensive client base.

This year, Deloitte recognised 129 indigenous companies at the awards, representing 28 of the 32 counties across the island of Ireland. The network of companies has a combined turnover of more than €15 billion and provide employment to over 45,000 people across a range of sectors from technology and healthcare to construction.

Commenting on the award, Ricky Wilson, Director and Auctioneer at Wilsons Auctions commented, “What makes Wilsons Auctions a best managed company is without doubt our employees and excellent communication amongst them. Dealing with the array of assets, our teams put effort and detail into each and every product we manage on a day to day basis.

By carefully developing and implementing strategies, this award ensures that we as a company are making steps in the right direction. We are delighted to be presented with this prestigious award again and cannot thank our employees enough.”

Pictured L to R; Ian Wilson and Ricky Wilson. 

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said: “The Irish economic growth story has been extraordinary, and we see this evidenced in the success of Irish indigenous businesses and the confidence shown by Best Managed Companies. Ensuring Ireland’s entrepreneurs and the companies they start get the support they need to grow and scale is crucial.”

Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets, said: “AIB is proud to be the new lead sponsors of Ireland’s Best Managed companies. One of AIB’s core ambitions is to support Irish companies and their management teams in sustainable growth and development, something which is fully aligned with the goals of the BMC programme.”

A total of 116 companies requalified as a Best Managed Company. 19 of these achieved Gold Standard (four years as a BMC) and 12 achieved Platinum Standard (seven years as a BMC). Fexco won the Family Business Award in association with the Family Business Network.

The members of this year’s judging panel were:

• Frank Ryan, former Chairman of the Board of IDA Ireland and Chair of BMC judging panel
• Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets
• Ellvena Graham OBE, Non-Executive Director & Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland
• Feargal Mooney, Non-Executive Director and former CEO of Hostelworld
• Lionel Alexander, Chair Intact Software and Non-Executive Director
• Orla O’Gorman, Non-Executive Director and former Head of Listing at Euronext
• Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Business School
• Sarah Murphy, CEO of Business Post

Wilsons Auctions is a family-owned business that has grown to become the largest independent auction company in Ireland and the UK.

Conducting over 3,200 auctions annually, the auction company offers a wide array of assets including vehicles, machinery and agricultural equipment, land and property, everyday products plus luxury items such as planes, yachts, gold bars, supercars, designer goods, and prestigious watches.

With national auction centres, re-marketing and storage premises, Wilsons Auctions is the only auction company to offer coverage across the entire UK and the Island of Ireland. Our national coverage allows departments to efficiently manage collection and storage of any volume and category of asset. 

For further information go to www.wilsonsauctions.com, follow on Facebook @wilsonsauctionsltd or go to @wilsonsauctions on Twitter and Instagram.

Pictured L to R; Ian Wilson and Ricky Wilson. 

About the Best Managed Companies Awards

Ireland’s Best Managed Companies programme, run by Deloitte, promotes and recognises excellence in Irish/Northern Irish owned and managed companies. It is the only awards scheme on the island of Ireland that considers a business’ performance from every perspective. Entrants to the programme will compete for this designation in a rigorous process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.

Programme sponsors are AIB, the UCD Michael Smurfit Business School and the Business Post. For further information, visit www.deloittebestmanaged.ie.

International History of Best Managed Companies Programme

The Best Managed Companies Programme originated in Canada in 1993, where it has been run successfully ever since and is the country’s leading business awards programme. In addition to Ireland and Canada, the programme is currently run in a total of 48 countries including China, The US, Southeast Asia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Türkiye, Mexico and Chile.

About AIB

AIB Group operates predominantly in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Our shares are quoted on the Irish and London stock exchanges and we are a member of the FTSE4Good Index.  Our brands include AIB, EBS, Haven, Payzone, Goodbody and our joint venutes AIB Merchant Services, Nifti and AIB life.

Whether it is navigating day-to-day life as we adapt to a greener way of living, planning for the future or growing a business, our ambition as a Group is to be at the heart of our customers’ financial lives.

About Deloitte

At Deloitte, we make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, our profession, and in the wider society by delivering the solutions and insights they need to address their most complex business challenges.

As the largest global professional services and consulting network, with approximately 457,000 professionals in more than 150 countries, we bring world-class capabilities and high-quality services to our clients.

In Ireland, Deloitte has approximately 3,000 people providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Our people have the leadership capabilities, experience and insight to collaborate with clients so they can move forward with confidence.

In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte Ireland LLP. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press. Deloitte Ireland LLP is the Ireland affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”). DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL and Deloitte NSE LLP do not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.