Local director bids for UK business title

Local director bids for UK business title

16 July 2014

A DOWNPATRICK businesswoman has been handpicked to represent Northern Ireland in the UK finals of the Director of the Year awards.

Tracy Hamilton, of Comber’s Mash Direct, is one of nine business leaders from the province to have been shortlisted for the Institute of Directors awards ceremony, which will be held in London.

Earlier this year, she won the local heat of the awards in the small and medium enterprise category.

As Director of Mash Direct, Tracy controls the marketing operations of the company and administration.

Tracy and her husband Martin identified a niche in the convenience food market when they founded Mash Direct in 2003.

The company now supplies 30 different products internationally from the Comber headquarters, employing more than 100 members of staff and enjoying a turnover of £11m.

Tracy Hamilton has been shortlisted for the mid-market company director of the year category.

Institute of Directors NI chairman, Mr. Paul Terrington congratulated each of the finalists.

“It’s a delight to see so many inspiring business leaders, who represent such a vast range of local industries and sectors, shortlisted for the UK finals of the Director of the Year Awards,” he said.

“The number of local directors shortlisted for these awards is almost double that of last year, which is hugely encouraging in that more and more of our home-grown, local directors are of high enough calibre to rival their counterparts across the water.

“I wish each and every one of the shortlisted candidates success at the ceremony in October.”