CORPORATE colossus Martin Naughton, returned to Newry where his Glen Electric business first started 50 years ago, to receive Newry Chamber’s prestigious President’s award.
The Chamber’s President’s Award is bestowed upon visionary leaders from the business community who have made a positive and enduring impact on the Greater Newry Area.
Presenting the award to Martin Naughton, who is currently chairman of Glen Dimplex, Chamber president Julie Gibbons described Martitn as “an inspiration not just to Newry, but to businesses on these islands and across the globe.”
She added: “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of his Glen Electric business in Newry.
“Moving into an empty factory in August 1973, with no machines and no workers, would be a very daunting challenge at any time, let alone 1973 when Newry was a very different place.
“Undaunted, and with confidence in the new Glen Electric business and in the ability of his young workforce recruited from the local dole office, the company delivered their first products after just two months.”
She added: “A remarkable achievement which was the first small step in a remarkable business journey turning his family-owned Glen Electric business into the global Glen Dimplex Group.”
The group is now one of the world’s major manufacturers of domestic appliances and the world’s largest producer of electric heaters, with brands such as Dimplex, Morphy Richards, Belling and Xpelair.
Glen Dimplex now has a turnover of more than €1.5 billion and employs 10,000 people at 28 manufacturing plants in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, China, and the US.
Ms Gibbons added: “Martin is another entrepreneurial success which started in Newry, a truly inspirational leader our business community is immensely proud of, and a worthy recipient of the 2023 Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade’s President’s Award.”
