Owner of Velo Coffee Rob Horgan named new president of Cork Chamber
Rob Horgan, the entrepreneur and owner of Velo Coffee, has stepped into the role of president of Cork Chamber. This announcement came during the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently at the Imperial Hotel Cork.
In his speech, Horgan shared his vision for the economic and social growth of Cork, emphasizing the Chamber’s proactive, forward-thinking approach to fostering a dynamic, smart city region. “Cork Chamber sets out a firm, ambitious, and determined vision for an invigorating and smart city region. One that is relentlessly progressive, yet regenerative, authentic, and expressive,” Horgan stated.
He highlighted Cork’s blend of reliability and innovation, underscoring the Chamber’s significant role in nurturing a strong business ecosystem. Reflecting on a personal note, Horgan reminisced about his childhood and observed Cork’s transformation over the years: “I grew up not far from here, on the outskirts of the city…This city has been my playground, my school ground, my workplace, my home place.”
Horgan applauded Cork’s development into a vibrant metropolitan area and its international recognition as a business hub. He underscored the city’s achievement in generating the highest revenue per person in Ireland, attributing this success to its robust business clusters in ICT, pharma, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and more.
“Cork boasts strong business clusters across ICT, pharma, cyber security, renewable energy, financial and professional services, maritime and agri-food,” he elaborated. Horgan also highlighted the contribution of Cork’s educational institutions, producing over 10,000 graduates annually, fostering a pro-business environment conducive to growth and innovation. “With our pro-business environment, it is no wonder that Cork was ranked No 1 small European city for FDI strategy in the Financial Times European Cities and Regions of the Future,” he added.
Addressing the challenges facing Cork, Horgan pinpointed housing delivery as a critical issue, urging for a pace of housing construction that matches the projected population growth. Furthermore, he advocated for inventive solutions to rejuvenate vacant properties and transform urban spaces.
“We simply must find creative resolutions to the issues that are rendering so much real estate vacant and falling into disrepair,” Horgan argued. He also emphasized the need for a visible police presence to ensure community safety and make the city centre a more welcoming place.
Horgan did not shy away from extolling Cork’s multicultural environment, calling for ongoing investment in education, expansion of apprenticeship programmes, and ambitious plans for Cork’s transport and energy systems designed to reduce car dependency and enhance sustainability.
In conclusion, Horgan expressed gratitude to the outgoing president, Ronan Murray, for his service and contributions to Cork Chamber and the broader business community. He pledged to work tirelessly with the Chamber team and its members toward securing Cork’s continued prosperity and positioning it as a leading city region marked by innovation and growth.
