BaxterStorey Ireland has been honoured with the overall excellence in HR award at the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2025, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin.
The company secured a hat-trick of wins after its management development programme was named best in class and Louise O’Riordan was selected as HR manager of the year.
The judging panel commended BaxterStorey Ireland’s pioneering approach to human resources and its success in creating a people-first culture that drives both personal and organisational growth.
Gráinne Kennedy, head of people at BaxterStorey Ireland, said: “Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and this recognition reflects their passion, commitment, and the culture we’ve built together. These awards are a testament to our people strategy, from our inclusive benefits and wellbeing initiatives to our industry-leading academies that develop talent at every level.”
READ MORE
The HR leader award was presented to Alastair McMenamin, a consultant for Spencer Stuart’s leadership advisory services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
He advises C-suite leaders on executive team succession, talent management, leadership development, assessment and leadership effectiveness.
McMenamin began his career with the Bank of Ireland before taking on leadership roles at Aviva Ireland and later Zurich Insurance Group, where he ran several CEO assessment centres to assess future CEO capability. The judging panel praised McMenamin for his ability to “blend strategic vision with genuine empathy and insight”, noting that his leadership has left a lasting imprint on both people and organisations.
McMenamin commented: “I’ve been in HR for 25 years and the role of HR is becoming much more important. It’s a key function and critical to the success of firms. There’s a great atmosphere at this event, with some great companies and great talent. HR is in good hands.”
The awards, now in their tenth year, attracted a record number of submissions from 52 companies across 84 entries, with 260 attendees gathering to celebrate excellence across 23 award categories. Hosted by Colm O’Regan, the event recognised individuals and organisations shaping the future of HR in Ireland.
Chris Blankley, head of delivery and services at awards sponsor EPI-USE Ireland, noted that HR leaders today are balancing empathy with evidence, using insight and technology to create environments where people and experience can thrive.
“Recognising those who innovate in how organisations engage and support their people strengthens the entire profession and inspires others to raise the bar for the future of work,” he added.
Applegreen was presented with the award for the best HR team in the large company category. HR manager Sarah Hayden said the forecourt retailer was “incredibly proud” of the recognition.
“This award reflects a year of transformational progress where we’ve driven strategic change, championed people-first initiatives, and embraced agility and resilience in everything we do,” she explained.
“The impact has been felt across the ROI operations business at Applegreen, and we’re honoured to have played a role in shaping a more inclusive, supportive, and forward-thinking workplace for our colleagues.”
Judging coordinator Edel Conway said the 2025 awards programme attracted more submissions than ever. “Each entry showcased not only a deep understanding of the evolving needs of their workforce but also a genuine commitment to fostering an inclusive, empowering and sustainable work environment,” she said.
“Several entries demonstrated how data is being used to make more informed decisions, drive employee engagement, and predict future workforce trends. This is a testament to the immense value that HR professionals continue to bring to their organisations and to the broader community.”
Marketing manager Sinead Joyce said Decare is proud to support the awards, as they highlight the vital role of wellbeing and leadership in creating thriving workplaces.
“Recognising those who champion healthier, happier teams reflects our shared commitment to supporting people and organisations across Ireland,” she stated.
Niamh Kennelly, managing director at HR Hire Ltd, remarked: “HR Hire proudly sponsors the HR Leadership & Management Awards, celebrating the innovation and impact of Ireland’s HR community. As Ireland’s leading HR talent partner, we champion the excellence that drives organisations forward and inspires future leaders.”
Kevin O’Driscoll, director of partnership programmes at awards organiser BusinessRiver, stated: “Events like this are made possible through the support of sponsors. We are thankful to our 2025 sponsors which include Decare, Access Group, Steering Point, HR Hire, and EPI-USE Ireland. I also want to recognise our supporter, Amárach Research, and our communications partner, The Irish Times. Their investment in the awards underlines their commitment and support of this key business area.”
Awards judges
● Edel Conway (judging coordinator) – professor of HRM, Dublin City University
● Judy Byrne – HR director & co-founder, Crewlink Ltd
● Leona Carroll – learning & development manager, Health Products Regulatory Authority
● Wendy Chin – managing director, Pinnacle HR
● Ronan Colleran – managing partner, Azon Executive Search
● Dr Mary Collins – chartered psychologist, RCSI
● Eamon Collins – owner, EC Coaching and Consulting
● Síobhra Disdale – employee relations director, Lidl Ireland GmbH
● Aminat Oluwabusola Farinmade – director, Total Rewards EMEA, Equinix
● Vivienne Fay – founder and MD, Irwin HR
● Claire Gubbins – professor in organisational behaviour & HRM, Dublin City University Business School
● Aidan Harney – strategy manager, Culture & OD, ESB
● Aideen Hartnett – HR manager, GXO Logistics Ireland Ltd
● Katy Lumsden – head of human resources, National Library of Ireland
● Gillian McMahon – head of HR, Enet Communications (formerly BT Communications Ireland)
● Blanaid O’Regan – director of people and culture, SIRO DAC
● Aricio Silvestre – human resources business partner, Turas Mobility Services
● Aisling Soden – manager, IDA Ireland
Award winners
Overall excellence in HR (sponsored by Steering Point)
Winner: BaxterStorey Ireland
HR team of the year – large (sponsored by HR Hire)
Winner: Applegreen – ROI HR Team
HR team of the year
Winner: spunout
Best specialist team
Winner: Citco – HR Portfolio Management Team
HR business growth strategy (sponsored by EPI-USE Ireland)
Winner: BWG Foods – Hire 2 Retire
HR manager of the year
Winner: BaxterStorey Ireland – Louise O’Riordan
Best workplace award -large
Winner: CluneTech
Best workplace award
Winner: SD Worx Ireland
Best workplace diversity strategy
Winner: DPD Ireland – Belonging at DPD: Inclusion in Action
Best health & wellbeing strategy (sponsored by Decare)
Winner: Iarnrod Eireann Irish Rail – Embedding a culture of Health & Wellbeing
Best learning and development strategy
Winner: Citco – The Citco Way of Learning
Best leadership development
Winner: BaxterStorey Ireland – The Management Development Programme
Best change management programme
Winner: Department of Health Culture Project – From Principals to Practice
Most effective recruitment & retention strategy
Winner: Mater Misericordiae University Hospital – Staffing the New Rock Wing
Most effective employee engagement strategy
Winner: Bus Éireann- Going the Extra Mile: Strategic Approach to Employee Engagement
Most effective use of internal communications
WINNER: Uisce Éireann – Zone: Innovating Communication to Empower Uisce Éireann’s Workforce
Most effective rewards & recognition strategy
Winner: SD Worx Ireland – Rewards and Recognition
Best use of CSR in HR
Winner: WeCan – A CluneTech Initiative
Best public sector HR initiative
Winner: Tusla, Child and Family Agency – Transition year & Post Primary Programme
Best use of digital transformation and AI (sponsored by The Access Group)
Winner: CPM Ireland – Digital & AI Transformation
Graduate training programme of the year
Winner: Viatris Little Island – Graduate Rotation Programme
HR rising star of the year (sponsored by HR Hire)
Winner: PHX Ireland – Liz Mahon
HR leader 2025 (sponsored by The Access Group)
Winner: Alastair McMenamin
For more information on the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2025, visit here.
