Ireland's top CEO's select next generation of business leaders

Three DCU students have been chosen by some of Ireland top business figures as the Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow for 2009.

The award, which is open to third-level graduates across the country, seeks to foster the next generation of talent that will help in shaping the public, private and social landscape of Ireland.

Mark Dolan, Alex Hampton and Joseph Gilmer, Masters students in Electronic Commerce in Business, took home the specially commissioned trophy and will tour Accenture sites in the US and India as part of their prize.

The judges included Danuta Gray, CEO O2, Mark Ryan, Country Managing Director Accenture Ireland, Cathal Muckian, Head of Commercial Banking with Bank of Ireland, Gina Quin, CEO Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Barry O’Leary, CEO IDA Ireland.

Mark Ryan, Country Managing Director for Accenture in Ireland said: "We established the Leaders of Tomorrow awards with the express aim of investing in graduates to allow them develop the tools and skills necessary for a life in business.

"All future business leaders must understand the importance of leadership skills to their success and also seek to fully adhere to the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability for the well-being of all in society."

The finalists in this year’s competition comprised of a mixture of groups and individuals drawn from Ireland’s third-level graduate community, with representatives from TCD, UL, UCD, DIT and DCU.