The Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI) has held its inaugural MMAI Industry Breakfast Morning in association with the Harris Group at the company’s landmark facilities on the Naas Road, Dublin.
The event was attended by invited guests including motoring journalists and motor industry executives. The aim of the MMAI Industry Breakfast Morning is to facilitate journalists and industry executives to come together to connect in an informal setting, encourage discussion on changes taking place in the motor industry and to look forward to the year ahead.
Joe Rayfus, Chairperson of the MMAI, welcomed guests and thanked the Harris Group for their support in hosting the event: “Any journalist will tell you that building and maintaining strong relationships is fundamental to helping us provide our audiences with all the latest information, advice and opinion. This event represents an important opportunity to strengthen and deepen those relationships with colleagues and stakeholders from across the Irish motor industry.
“On behalf of the MMAI, I wish to express our gratitude to Denise Harris and the Harris Group for their continued support of this important event. I would like to thank the representatives from the numerous importers, distributors, and agencies for joining us and supporting this important occasion.”
Mark Barrett, General Manager of Harris Maxus, and Chris Haughton, General Manager of Harris Bus and Coach, spoke about the company’s EV journey and innovation taking place in their commercial vehicle business towards a more sustainable future.
Promising young Irish racing driver Alex Dunne, who is a Harris Group brand ambassador, spoke to guests about his continued progress towards achieving his goal of becoming Ireland’s next Formula 1 driver.
The keynote speaker was Joe McConville, an approved driving instructor for motorcycles with considerable experience of touring large motorcycles in Ireland, the UK, Europe, and North America. With a career also spanning nearly 40 years in landscape management, Joe spoke about the influence of trees on Irish roads and the balance between improving the road network while maintaining the benefits of trees.
Speaking at the event, Denise Harris, CEO of Harris Group said: “I am delighted to welcome so many representatives of the Irish motoring media to our Dublin headquarters and to demonstrate our commitment to driving a truly green agenda for the greater good. Of course, our green agenda cannot be delivered successfully without the support of the media. You have a major role to play in helping us to continue to educate people and organisations about the benefits of EVs and the urgent need for us all to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change, as well as to reduce dependence on increasingly expensive diesel and petrol.”
Before closing the event, Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres and Joe Rayfus presented the award for Continental Tyres Irish Commercial SUV of the Year to Eddie Kavanagh, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Ireland, for the Land Rover Defender Commercial.
The MMAI made a €500 donation to the Harris Group’s Turkey and Syria earthquake appeal, which will see aid brought directly to the people who most need it.
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