Former ISME Chairman Ross McCarthy has been elected to the Board of SMEUnited in Brussels, the association of crafts and SMEs in Europe.
SMEUnited, which has about 70 member organisations from over 30 European countries, is a recognised employers' organisation and European Social Partner.
It acts on behalf of crafts and SMEs in the European Social Dialogue and in talks with the EU institutions.
It represents national cross-sectoral Craft and SME federations, European SME branch organisations and associate members, and speaks on behalf of the 22.5 million SMEs in Europe which employ almost 82.4 million people.
Ross McCarthy was Chairman of ISME from 2019-2021, covering much of the Covid pandemic.
He oversaw ISME obtaining two key legislative changes for SMEs as well as insurance reforms through directly lobbying Govt Ministers. He was re-elected to the ISME Board in 2023 for a fourth term.
"I am humbled but also very excited to be elected by the General Assembly to advocate on behalf of entrepreneurs and their businesses over the coming year," Ross McCarthy said.
"Europe is the source of great opportunities for Irish business but it is also the origin of regulation that makes it ever harder for SMEs to stay in business let alone compete. I look forward to representing the views of ISME members at the Board of SMEUnited and to ensure our voice shapes the business environment we share," he added.
ISME Chair, Marc O'Dwyer, said the group was delighted with the election of its former Chair Ross McCarthy to the Board of SMEUnited.
"We look forward to Ross robustly representing the interests of Irish and EU SMEs in Brussels at a time when the legislative and regulatory burden has never been higher on small businesses," he added.
