Karl Fitzpatrick is EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist

Well-known entrepreneur, Karl Fitzpatrick, has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ programme.

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ programme recognises exceptional entrepreneurial achievement among individuals and companies that demonstrate vision, leadership and success. Being named a finalist places Karl among Ireland’s most esteemed business leaders.

Karl is the President of Chevron College and presenter of South East Radio’s Business Matters. Chevron College employs 135 staff in Wexford and delivers online further and higher education programmes in sustainability, technology, healthcare, business and childcare to over 15,000 students annually.

Following the announcement, Karl Fitzpatrick said, “It is a real honour to have been selected as a finalist in this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme. It’s both a personal milestone and the ultimate recognition for what Chevron College has achieved so far. For me, this is also a moment to reflect on the people who’ve helped shape my journey and I would like to thank my family, colleagues, students, friends, academic partners and everyone who believed in what we set out to do.”

Karl is following in the footsteps of fellow Wexford-based entrepreneurs; Sam McCauley, Liam Griffin and Fred Karlsson, who were finalists between 2004-2010. Following this year’s announcement, Liam Griffin spoke to South East Radio about his participation in the 2010 EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme and described it as a life-changing experience, by becoming part of the EOY alumni community. Liam congratulated Karl on this outstanding achievement and wished him every success in the programme.

This year’s finalists have been shortlisted by an independent judging panel of previous winners, chaired by Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest and Chairperson of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Judging™ Panel. Since its inception, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland™ community has grown to a tight-knit network of more than 650 alumni who harness each other’s wealth of experience, with three-quarters conducting business with one another. Together, the EOY alumni community generates revenues of €25bn, and employs more than 250,000 people across the island of Ireland.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland programme is supported by Enterprise Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Julius Baer International.

(Photo: Master Tailor Louis Copeland dressing Karl Fitzpatrick for success in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme.)