The Northern Ireland business community was well represented in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.
The two brothers at the helm of one of our largest companies, Henderson Group, both received an OBE.
Speaking of their honours, Martin and Geoffrey jointly commented: “We are honoured to accept these awards on behalf of all our colleagues in the Henderson Group and our fantastic retailers, trade customers, and suppliers. Without their contribution, the business would not have grown in the way it has over the last 40 years.
“We acknowledge the guidance of our father, John Agnew CBE and our late grandfather, W.A. Agnew, who both set the standard and values for this business, including the practice of stewardship. As God has blessed us and this business, so we seek to make a lasting difference to the communities in which we trade”.
This year marks 40 years since they both joined the business after graduating from Ulster University. The pair succeeded their father, John Agnew CBE, as Joint Managing Directors of the Group in 1998, positions they held until 2025.
Under their stewardship, Henderson Group has made capital investments of around £300 million, developing an estate that includes world-class logistics infrastructure and over 500 Company owned and independent retail stores serving communities across Northern Ireland.Henderson Group is one of the region’s most significant employers, recently surpassing 6,000 employees and contributing £167 million in wages to the local economy each year.
John Harkin, Founder of Alchemy and one of Derry’s most prominent business figures, also received a OBE, as did Dr. Helen Kirkpatrick, former Chair of the board at QUBIS and Trevor Annon, Managing Director and Chair of Mount Charles, another of our largest family firms.
Amongst this year’s MBEs were George Fleming, Chair of Co. Derry-based Fleming Agri Products; Harry Geddis, one of the founders of the highly successful Avondale Foods, based in Craigavon, and 2025 winners of the AIB Business Eye Company of the Year Award and Paul Millar of Belfast-based Hamilton Architects.
A BEM (British Empire Medal) was awarded to Greg McKinney, Operations Director at the Ballymena-based Gallaher Trust.