CPL chief is best in business

THE chief executive of recruitment firm CPL Resources, Anne Heraty, has been been named as Ireland’s top businesswoman.

Ms Heraty, who formed the company with her husband, was last night presented with the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award by Tánaiste Mary Harney.

In recent years the award has gone to Ireland’s top female business leaders, including chef Darina Allen, Riverdance co-founder Moya Doherty and fashion designer Louise Kennedy.

Ms Heraty graduated from UCD with a BA in economics and maths and co-founded Computer Placement with Keith O’Malley in 1989.

The company is listed on the Dublin and London stock exchanges, has offices in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kildare and Galway and employs 2,700 people. CPL had a turnover of €70 million and pre-tax profits of €2.5 million in 2004.

She has also been on the board of companies including the Irish Brain Research Foundation.

She is chairperson of the National Training Advisory Council, chair of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and a director of Bord na Mona.