Alan Armstrong, the chair and Chief Executive Officer of Almac Group, headquartered in Craigavon, has been awarded the Institute of Directors' (IoD) most prestigious honour. Armstrong received the Chair’s 2024 Award of Excellence in Director and Board Practice at the IoD NI and AIB Governance and Leadership Summit held in Belfast. This new initiative aims to unify senior business figures from Northern Ireland with thought-leaders in environmental, social, and governance (ESG), artificial intelligence (AI), and corporate governance.
The event attracted over 130 delegates to the Merchant Hotel and featured AIB as the primary sponsor. The summit was generously supported by Tughans, Ulster University Business School, and Belfast Harbour, aiming to foster dialogue on pivotal business issues. Among the highlights was a keynote address by Nick Wallis, the journalist renowned for exposing the Post Office Horizon scandal. The programme also included panel discussions on the critical role of ESG for small and medium-sized enterprises and the influence of AI on corporate strategy.
Upon presenting the award to Armstrong, John Hansen, the IoD's regional chair, praised him as an exemplary leader, noting his significant contributions to Almac and the broader business community in Northern Ireland.
Alan Armstrong embarked on his career journey over 40 years ago, earning his credentials as a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 1981. His professional path commenced at Galen Research Laboratories, where he was swiftly promoted to quality assurance manager in 1982. Subsequent roles saw Armstrong assume several key management and technical positions, ultimately earning a place on the board of directors as chief operating officer in 1995. His tenure at Almac began in 2002 when he took on the role of CEO for the pharmaceutical giant.
In his current capacity, Armstrong oversees the company's entire global operations and guides its strategic vision. His leadership and contributions to Northern Ireland's economy were commemorated in 2013 with the conferment of an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Upon receiving the award in Belfast, Armstrong expressed his satisfaction and honour. However, he was quick to share credit with his colleagues, acknowledging their contributions to his successful career.
Elsewhere in corporate governance, it was noted that John Bason, chair of FareShare since 2012 and former finance director of Associated British Foods, will serve as executive chair. This reflects an ongoing trend of experienced leaders continuing to shape the future of business governance and strategy in various sectors.
Source: Noah Wire Services