We're proud to announce that Buymedia founder and CEO Fergal O'Connor has been named Tech Leader of the Year at the North West Leadership Awards 2026.
The ceremony took place on 5 March 2026 at The Midland Hotel in Manchester, where 20 category winners were recognised from across the North West business community. Fergal was shortlisted across three categories — Emerging Entrepreneur, Marketing Leader, and Tech Leader, a testament to the breadth of his impact since launching Buymedia's UK operations in Manchester.
But if you ask Fergal about the win, he'll redirect the credit instantly. When the trophy was in hand, his message to the team was just two words: "We won."
That instinct says everything about how Buymedia operates. The recognition reflects a platform built by a team that believes AI-powered advertising should be accessible to every business, not just the ones with the biggest budgets.
From helping SMEs achieve an average 27% ROI uplift, to setting sights on Buymedia’s entry into the US, coming on the heels of our UK expansion, progress has always been a collective effort.
Beyond the platform, Fergal's commitment to the wider community - through the Advertise for Good initiative and pioneering apprenticeship programmes, reflects a leadership style that puts purpose alongside performance.
We'd also like to recognise the remarkable calibre of leaders from moneyappi, CredAbility, DGI, Vypr, Galvia AI, Department and R-Com Consulting, who Fergal was up against in this category.
Congratulations to every one of them. A huge thank you to TheBusinessDesk.com for an incredible evening and for shining a light on the leadership shaping the future of the North West.
The win adds to a strong run of recognition for Buymedia, which recently ranked 73rd in the Deloitte EMEA Technology Fast 500 and was backed at its UK launch by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
