IN BUSINESS Emerald City Ireland’s road to recovery
r e g i T h c e T The lure of London for Irish start-ups
ISSN 0959-678
£2.99/¤3.50 Eurozone
Sean Mulryan The Ballymore chairman on work, life and the secret to his success
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Contents 41-42 Women in Business
37-39
25-27 In the tech hot seat
Ireland and the Square Mile Printed by: Warners Midlands plc. The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH Published by: The Irish Post, 1 Lindsey Street, Smithfield, London EC1A 9HP Additional research and reporting: Malcolm Rogers, James Martin, Jake Polden, John O’Brien Design: Lawrence Forrest, Carl McMillan Advertising: Katie Brown, Sarah Murphy, Daniel Downer, Martin Gray Contact The Irish Post Tel: 0044 20 8900 4195 www.irishpost.co.uk Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/TheIrishPost Follow us on Twitter: @IrishPostSport
Siobhán Breatnach, Editor Originally from Tramore in Co. Waterford Siobhán Breatnach is Editor of The Irish Post. A UCD Law graduate she is also founding editor of Companies100 and In Business magazine, also published by The Irish Post. @sbreatnach
In Business 2014 4 6-34 25-27 37-39 41-42 44-47 48-49 50
Strengthening new found friendships 2014’s In Business profiles The future is in Irish hands Soaring out of the triple dip Secret to success in a woman’s world Take us to your leaders Index and useful contacts Out of office with Ballymore’s Sean Mulryan
Our contributors Fiona Audley
Padraig Belton
Mairéad Wilmot
Fiona Audley is Regional Editor with The Irish Post. She contributes features, news and profiles to the business section across print and digital platforms as well as developing key community and business partnerships. @fifiaudley
Pádraig Belton is a foreign correspondent and contributes regularly for the BBC and Guardian. He received the 2013 TrenchGascoigne Prize for foreign affairs writing from the Royal United Services Institute. @padraigbelton
From Co. Cork, Mairéad Wilmot is a London-based business journalist. She is a former journalist with The Nationalist, Carlow and has contributed to The Irish Times, The Irish Independent, Irish Examiner and Evening Echo. @maireadwilmot
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Strengthening new found friendships A packed agenda has made 2014 a memorable year in British-Irish relations. Siobhán Breatnach reflects
A
s the final months of 2014 draw in it Sir David McMurtry , Liam Brady, Sean provides the opportunity to reflect on Mulryan and Louise Kennedy — who we’ve the year that was. honoured for their paramount success For the British-Irish relationship this year has and contribution. been a memorable one — both for its highlights Louise Kennedy — this year’s Irish Post Company of the Year recipient and challenges. — moves into her forth fruitful April’s historic state visit saw the Queen decade as one of Ireland’s welcome Irish President Michael D Higgins to premier designers while her Windsor followed by a whirlwind five days of creations, as worn by formalities, festivities and fanfare. Sabina Higgins, took centre Just weeks earlier Prime Minister David stage during the state visit. Cameron proclaimed Anglo-Irish relations The theme of contribution “at an all-time high” when he meet with continues with a special Irish Post Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Downing Street to Community Award for 2014 for Michael review 2012’s Joint Statement. Forde from Manchester’s Irish World Trade, energy, and the economy all took Heritage Centre. their place on the Phase one of the agenda, as too did multi-million pound the peace process development, and the North of which has been Ireland where championed by the contentious issues Mayo man for surrounding flags, almost two parades and the decades, officially legacy of the opened earlier Troubles have this year. brought both “The drawings nations back to the Downing Street extended a warm welcome to Enda Kenny had come to life” is political table this how he describes month. the proud moment when the state-of-the-art September’s Scottish Referendum caught centre for the Irish Diaspora finally opened the attention of those on both sides of the its doors to the public. Irish Sea, while the appointment by the Irish For Irish creatives, 2014 has also been a Government of the first ever Diaspora year of highlights — something that looks set Minister helped focus attention on the to continue over the coming 12 months with hundreds of thousands of Irish people flying 2015 earmarked as the Year of Irish Design. the flag for Ireland abroad in their new While there was applause from all quarcommunities and in the business world. ters when Irish architects Sheila O’Donnell Which brings us to the business of and John Tuomey, the husband and wife this year’s Irish Post Awards and winners — Jonathan team with ties to London, were named as Rhys Meyers, the 2015 recipients of the Royal Gold Medal, the world’s most prestigious architecture award. The British-Irish relationship has travelled far despite its complex and tangled history and the strengthening of ties continues — evident most recently this October with the introduction of a new tourism boosting British-Irish visa system. For both its challenges and highlights, 2014 has certainly been a year to remember.
Irish Post Award-winner Michael Forde 4
Model Martha Christie, right, in Louise Kennedy’s Freya Ander Jersey Dress from the designer’s new Autumn Winter Collection Picture: Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland
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Hugh Beattie PARTNER, MCCANN FITZGERALD
EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINES LTD Originally form Co. Kilkenny Stella Adams is the Publishing Director of Exclusive Magazines, a stable of luxury lifestyle publishing in London, the South East and Ireland. “Our mission is to create consumer titles that are influential, intelligent and reflect the world of our discerning readers,” Stella says of her titles, which span categories
from local news and events, interiors, arts, travel and more. The Exclusive lifestyle portfolio is made up of 20 regional titles which showcase the best of each local area, from Buckinghamshire to Dublin, as well as London’s luxury parenting magazine, baby&me — an inspiring read for discerning mothers. Stella is a keen sports, music and theatre aficionado.
As the lead partner in McCann Fitzgerald’s London office Hugh Beattie specialises in debt capital markets, restructuring, bank and financial services regulation and corporate treasury among other areas. A University College Dublin graduate, he qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and was made partner at McCann Fitzgerald in 2004. His recent
work includes acting as lead Irish counsel to Irish Nationwide Building Society in respect of various high profile matters including the issuance by INBS of its €4billion Guaranteed 'Own Use' Bond and advising the directors of several Lehman subsidiaries in Ireland and all of the Irish "Windermere" Lehman CMBS conduits. Hugh is also a regular contributor to financial services publications.
Rosaleen Blair FOUNDER AND CEO, ALEXANDER
David Boal MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE ABRAAJ
MANN SOLUTIONS
GROUP
Since founding her recruitment firm in 1996, Rosaleen Blair and Alexander Mann Solutions have grown to achieve international recognition. Originally from Dublin, Rosaleen is a determined and award-winning businesswoman. A member of the Global Irish Network, among her many accolades is the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year award and the Global HRO
superstar title. Alexander Mann Solutions, which was The Irish Post’s Company of the Year last year, was acquired by US private equity fund, New Mountain Capital, in a £260million deal in October 2013. The firm currently operates in 75 countries, working for the likes of Vodafone and Deloitte.
Adrian Brady CEO, EULOGY! LTD Located near London’s Charles Dickens Museum, Adrian Brady’s PR agency is a buzzing firm with a bright future. A former PRCA Agency of the year, the firm is set to expand alongside its sister agency Onlinefire, which operates within the ever-widening field of social media marketing. This dynamism can be traced back
to Adrian, with mottos such as ‘be brave’ guiding his career. Spending time in the US before dramatically ending a high-ranking PR position to start his new firm he has certainly shown his staff the boldness he wants them to follow. Adrian believes in the importance of giving opportunities to employees, stating “I’ve got the most out of people by giving them exciting work.”
John Brennan DIRECTOR OF HOUSING,
David Boal is Managing Director and leads the European fund-raising and client coverage team at The Abraaj Group following a recent move from Credit Suisse. A graduate of Queens University Belfast and the London School of Economics, David has more than 30 years’ experience in the fields of economics and investment. After graduating with a Masters in Economics from LSE, he joined Shell International,
specialising in sovereign debt analysis for emerging market economies. Moving to investment banking, he covered institutional clients at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. He also ran the London office of Bank of Ireland Asset Management. A keen runner, he has completed marathons for charity.
Angela Brady ARCHITECT DIRECTOR, BRADY MALLALIEU ARCHITECTS With an international education beginning in Trinity College Dublin and expanding to Toronto and Copenhagen, Angela Brady has spent the last 30 years in London since founding her firm. Private homes, urban medical centres and community centres across London have been designed by the firm, with Mastmaker Road being one
of its most iconic works. As President of the Royal Institute of British Architects from 2011-13 Angela championed equality within architecture stating “we’re only 18 per cent women and I’d love it if we could push it to 40 per cent”. Regularly seen on British and Irish TV, Angela has been a key public figure in promoting not just her sector but also its need to incorporate sustainable design and methods.
Sean Brogan CHAIRMAN, STOBART AIR
TOGETHER Born in London to parents from Co. Mayo, here is a man whose work has been so beneficial that he was given the London Mayor’s award for ‘making an outstanding contribution to life in London’. John has worked at high-ranking levels in the housing sector for over 25 years, holding positions such as Chief Executive at Cara Irish Housing and YMCA in England. His resettlement of
Bosnian refugees reflects his interest in socially excluded groups. Working within local government, health authorities and housing associations, John was given the number two position in a recent Housing Corporation most efficient operation cost index.
Jeremy Browne EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, J BROWNE CONSTRUCTION LTD A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Londonbased Jeremy Browne is the Executive Chairman of civil engineering and utility company J Browne Construction. Working for clients such as Thames Water, Affinity Water, National Grid Gas and a variety of local authorities and private clients, Jeremy describes his role as “driving health and safety
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excellence, ensuring good corporate governance, engaging in client liaison, improving customer service and developing and implementing strategy”. He has proved successful in this, winning the ‘most improved safety performance’ in the Thames Water Annual Safety Awards 2011. When it comes to business, Jeremy believes in maintaining a family feel while delivering professional service.
Sean Brogan was appointed to the role of Chairman of Stobart Air in April 2014, having overseen the airline’s transformation during his tenure as Interim Chief Executive since 2012. Playing a key role in the airline’s ‘new beginning’ strategy, Sean has been involved in a number of key measures within Stobart Air, formerly Aer Arann, including a successful financial restructure, the implementation of a 10 year
agreement with Aer Lingus, the introduction of new aircraft fleet and a second franchise partner with British-airline Flybe. Stobart Air, part of the Stobart Group which also operates London Southend Airport, currently runs 550 flights weekly across 27 routes throughout Ireland, Britain and France under the Aer Lingus Regional brand.
Alan Burke PARTNER, WHITE & CASE Having grown up in Dun Laoghaire Alan Burke moved to London in the mid-1990s and qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1999. The University College Dublin graduate has been a partner in the White & Case’s London office since 2008 where he has a wide range of experience in corporate transactions, including international and domestic mergers and acquisitions,
disposals, joint ventures, representing public and private corporations, governments and banks. Past cases have included advising Intergum, the largest manufacturer of chewing gum in Turkey, on its sale to Cadbury Schweppes for US$450 million and guiding Deutsche Bank through the €530million public to private financing for the acquisition of Richmond Foods Plc, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange.
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Simon Burke NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
Pat Butler PARTNER, RESOLUTION FINANCIAL
CO-OPERATIVE FOOD BOARD
MARKETS
As an experienced retail and consumer executive Simon burke has worked with some of Britain’s best-known retailers. Having stepped down from the board of Hobbycraft this spring, having held the position of Chairman since 2012, the former executive chairman of Irish retailer Superquinn, is currently a non-
executive Director with the Cooperative Food Board and the BBC. Simon trained as a chartered accountant before joining Virgin, where he held positions including CEO of Virgin Retail, Virgin Cinemas, and Virgin Entertainment Group. In 1999 he became Chairman & Chief Executive of Hamleys PLC and has also been chairman of Majestic Wine and Mitchells & Butlers, the pub and restaurant business.
Michael Byrne CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
Having previously been a Director at McKinsey & Co, Pat Butler joined The Resolution Group in 2011. There he is responsible for forming strategies for restructuring projects and for the strategic and operational shifting of acquired businesses. His 25 years at McKinsey provided Pat with key experience including
advising banks, insurance companies and asset managers in Britain. He led McKinsey’s European Retail Financial Services Practice from 2006-2010 and before that led the firm’s UK Financial Institutions Practice. He was born in Co. Tipperary, attending University College Dublin and then qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Author Anderson & Co.
The Carey Family CAREYS
BYRNE GROUP A year after the death of his father Patsy, Michael continues as CEO of the Byrne Group. Michael has been working in the family business for 20 years, being a director since 2005, bringing with him the experience to advance the construction and engineering firm this year. Founded by brothers Patsy and Johnny Byrne in 1969, the firm
is based in Teddington where it specialises in concrete frame, fit-out, newbuild, refurbishment and lean construction operations. Its work has been displayed across a range of buildings from schools, hotels and aviation projects, including The Shard, Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena.
The Clancy Family THE CLANCY GROUP PLC Founded in 1958 by Michael Clancy, The Clancy Group is the trading name of the large construction group Clancy Docwra. The company does work for national utilities such as Scottish Water, Scottish power and of late is completing work on Power Networks in the centre of
London. It remains in family hands under the direction of Dermot, Kevin and Mary Clancy and has increased its annual turnover from £8million to £250million. Clancy Docwra Limited was also awarded the Health and Safety Category accolade in the 2014 Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries Annual Awards.
transfer them to others and focus on developing solutions and delivering quality’. Headquarters can be found in Wembley with regional offices across the country. This year Careys joined the Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety (CLOCS) initiative in support of best practice within the construction sector.
David Collins CO-FOUNDER/GROUP MARKETING DIRECTOR, GREAT NATIONAL HOTELS AND RESORTS David is CoFounder and Group Marketing Director for Co. Clare-based Great National Hotels and Resorts, Ireland’s largest privately owned hotel group and one of Britain’s fastest growing. With over 20 years’ experience in results-driven, direct response marketing, his awardwinning work, including call centre development, has been instrumental
in building some of the largest hotel names in Britain and Ireland. Having graduated from Dublin College of Catering, David went on to complete his management studies at Trinity College Dublin, followed by a Masters in Marketing at University College Dublin. When it comes to taking a break from the hotel world you’ll find David enjoying the surf on Ireland’s west coast or indulging his passion for music and film.
Michael Collins CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND DEPUTY CEO, CITY JET
Declan Collier CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LONDON CITY AIRPORT
Having been with City Jet over a decade, Michael Collins continues in his role as CFO and Deputy CEO. He studied at Dublin Business School before gaining an EMBA in Business Administration from the London Business School. While having its headquarters in Dublin, City Jet is a truly international airline with offices in Antwerp and London alongside staff placed all over Europe. Michael has had a
Declan Collier is a big voice within the aviation industry. As CEO of London City Airport, he recently sparked debate when he argued that Britain’s planning system was “too democratic” and was causing negative delays in airport expansion. London City Airport is currently looking to expand with new terminals, taxi lanes and stands, a move set to boost the London economy by £750million
busy year in his financial role, as City Jet was sold by Air France to German investor Intro aviation in May. The firm is now to be merged with InterSky to form a larger regional carrier. Additionally, Michael was also made a non-executive member on the board of directors for St. James’s Hospital in March 2014.
Andrew Coppel CBE GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DE VERE GROUP Having graduated in Law from Queen’s University Belfast, Andrew moved to London and qualified as an accountant with PwC. He moved to Morgan Grenfell, then onto Ratners Group and afterwards Queens Moat Houses, where he reduced the firm’s large debt and greatly improved its performance.
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In 44 years, John, Pat and Tom Carey have come a long way since forming their construction company. Originally from Co. Tipperary, the brothers have expanded into demolition, civil engineering, house building and environmental solutions, providing services in Britain and Ireland. Committed to a philosophy of ‘selfdelivery’, they ‘manage out construction risks rather than
He joined De Vere Group as executive chairman in 2010, and assumed the additional role of CEO in September 2011. The group has 61 properties and a turnover of £330million. His other roles have included CEO of Jockey Club Racehorses and former Chairman of London Irish Rugby. In 2008 he was awarded a CBE for services to Irish Tourism as Chairman of Tourism Ireland.
per year. With a BA and MSc in Economics from Trinity College Dublin, Declan has held high ranking positions in DAA Finance and the Bank of Ireland, alongside his vast experience in the aviation industry. His interests also extend to the arts as chairman of the Dublin Theatre Festival, a post he has held since 2011.
Breon Corcoran CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BETFAIR Breon Corcoran has had a great year. A Betfair report for Q1 2014 showed increased net gaming revenues of 30 per cent to £117.3million, following the trend of shares increasing by 50 per cent since he took over in 2012. Breon stated that the operator would focus on product refinement and operational sustainability to
continue the progress. Graduating in Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin, followed by an MBA at INSEAD, Breon has also worked at Paddy Power, J.P. Morgan and Bankers Trust. With vast experience in start-up and mature businesses, Breon’s specialties lie in digital, strategy, business development, operations management, ecommerce, B2C and B2B.
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THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Part of your business week
Richard Corrigan CHEF AND RESTAURATEUR
Dr John Costello CONSULTANT IN RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
From a 25-acre farm with no electricity in Co. Meath, Richard Corrigan is now a Michelin-starred and world respected chef. He has not forgotten his past however, drawing heavily on it in his recipe book The Clatter of Forks and Spoons and his other publications. After studying at the Dublin Institute of Technology he earned his first Michelin star at
Stephen Bull followed by another after opening Lindsay House in Soho. His iconic restaurant Corrigan’s Mayfair has been awarded London Restaurant of the Year by the Evening Standard and has earned three AA Rosettes. He’s also won the BBC’s Great British menu three times. Richard recently hinted at opening a vegetarian restaurant in Dublin using produce from his 100acre estate in Co. Cavan.
Paul Costelloe PAUL COSTELLOE DESIGN LTD
Now Practising at London’s Cromwell Hospital, the London Clinic and Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon, Dr John Costello has been a Consultant Physician in general and respiratory medicine since 1977. Graduating from University College Dublin, he has held appointments in Dublin, London,
Edinburgh and California highlighting the international respect the medical community has for him. He has widely published, and has edited and written several books. He is also involved in the rebuilding of St. Bart’s and Royal London Hospitals within his role as non-executive Chairman of Capital Hospitals Ltd.
Mick Crossan PRESIDENT LONDON IRISH RUGBY, CHAIRMAN POWERDAY
Now one of the most respected names in British fashion, Paul Costelloe has not always had such a fashionable career. After leaving Blackrock College Dublin at 16 he went to work in a pig factory in Co. Waterford. From there, however, he moved to Paris to train in the Faubourg Saint Honoré Hautes Coutures boutiques, then to Italy working as a designer for la Rinascente, and
finally to New York. Returning to Dublin in 1978, he set up Paul Costelloe Collections. Since then he has found huge commercial success while designing uniforms for top firms such as British Airways and sport outfits for Irish Olympics teams and the wifes of the European Ryder cup team.
Dennis Curran CHAIRMAN, BARHALE Dennis Curran founded Barhale in 1980 as a specialist tunnelling contractor and under his watch the company has grown to be one of the largest civil engineering businesses in Britain. At the core of his operations, Dennis has maintained his values through his work where ‘safety, integrity and service are of
utmost importance.’ Barhale recently won a contract to be involved in the delivery of frameworks worth over £6billion from Anglian Water while also receiving a five-year extension from Yorkshire Water for their framework. With a promising future, Barhle looks set to still play a large role in Britain’s utility services.
Alan Davis PARTNER PINSENT MASONS
Beconing President of the Exiles this year, Mick Crossan is a key Irish business personality in Britain. With his successful recycling and waste management company Powerday, Mick has provided much needed financial strength to London Irish Rugby and has set a bold vision to make them “one of the biggest clubs in the world.” He also has wider sporting interests beyond rugby and is a
strong supporter of Chelsea football club. London-based, he spent most of his childhood summers ‘back home’ in his father’s native Co. Cavan playing Gaelic football. The term London Irish seems ingrained in his life story — surely a welcoming sign for Exiles’ supporters.
Greg Campbell PARTNER MISHCON DE REYA Belfast-born Oxford University graduate Greg Campbell is a partner in the Employment Department with Mishcon De Reya. Acting for employers, both in Britain and internationally he has particular expertise in the financial services sector where he has been involved in numerous bonus disputes and
regulatory issues. As an established media voice, he regularly features in the press and is frequently quoted as an expert in his field. With clients such as JP Morgan, Greg has extensive experience of acting on matters in both the Employment Tribunal and High Court. He is a member of both the Employment Lawyers Association and the European Employment Lawyers Association.
Trevor Diveney CO-FOUNDER, GROUND CONSTRUCTION LTD
With a Law degree and Diploma in European Law from University College Dublin, Alan Davis is a partner at Pinsent Masons specialising in EU and Competition law. His expertise spans a broad range of British and EU competition law including merger control, joint ventures, anti-competitive agreements and practices including cartels, abuse of a dominant position and state aid. He has worked on
Trevor Diviney, who traces his roots to Donegal and Wexford, cofounded Ground Construction in 1997 with Tipperary’s Paddy Shanahan, who is the company’s Operations Director. In 2002, the business expanded to undertake insitu concrete frames and soon after their trading name was changed to GCL. The business has continued to thrive with developments including tower crane hire, pre-cast concrete
solutions, skip hire and waste recycling. GCL's team as well as investment in the latest plant technologies allows the company to tackle projects from £500,000 traditional groundworks packages, to complex £15million multiple basement with concrete frame developments.
Marina Donohoe DIRECTOR — UK AND
Maurice Doyle DIRECTOR AT ORANGINA
NORTHERN EUROPE ENTERPRISE IRELAND
SCHWEPPES INTERNATIONAL
Now Director for UK and Northern Europe Marina Donohoe has been with Enterprise Ireland since the early 1990s. She moved to the US in 1998, initially to Silicon Valley, where she established a new office in California. A DIT and Trinity College graduate, Marina was appointed Enterprise Ireland’s Director Americas in 2002 and relocated to New York. As Director
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competition investigations by the European Commission and the British competition authorities, handling merger clearances before both institutions. Among his areas of expertise are financial services, energy, construction and infrastructure, aviation, manufacturing, retail and life sciences sectors.
Americas she led the growth of Irish companies exporting to the region establishing new offices in Canada, Brazil and Mexico. On her return to Dublin she has worked in roles including leading the Cleantech team and also the Education in Ireland brand. Enterprise Ireland’s mission is to accelerate the development of world class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity.
Wicklow man Maurice Doyle took on a new role this summer in Amsterdam as managing director at the head offices of Orangina Schweppes International. Maurice’s move from Britain to a company specialising in nonalcoholic beverages is something of a break from his previous
position in charge of global brand development and marketing for William Grant & Sons – which he left in August – whose portfolio includes spirit makers Glefiddich and Tullamore Dew. Maurice holds a Double First Class Honours BA and MA from Trinity College Dublin in Economic and Social studies. Prior to this, he was employed for 17 years at multinational drinks firm Bacardi.
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Clare Duffy
Derek Duffy
GENERAL MANAGER UK, ESBI INVESTMENTS
DIRECTOR, DORNAN ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD
Having previously worked in Britain and the US in the power systems engineering industry, Clare Duffy joined ESB in 1999. Appointed as ESBI’s General Manager for Britain in 2011, Clare is currently involved in projects such as investing and developing gas-fired generation and on-shore windfarms. One of the London office’s main
focuses is on increased integration between Britain and Ireland with the ultimate aim of creating an All-Islands electricity market. Clare graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde and has post-graduate qualifications in Accounting & Finance, Marketing and Management. A career highlight came in 2006 when Clare took up a fivemonth overseas assignment in Kosovo working on a UN-funded project.
Derek Duffy got his first taste of the building industry working with his father Pat on construction sites during the school holidays in his hometown of Newtownforbes in Longford. After studying electrical engineering in Dublin his first job as a qualified engineer was in Belguim. He quickly gained a wide range of experience working on commercial,
Ronan Dunne
Bernard Dwyer
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TELEFONICA UK LTD
FOUNDER, PDH MODULAR ACCESS
Dublin-born Ronan Dunne was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Telefónica UK (O2) in 2008 and became a member of the Telefónica SA Executive Committee in March of this year. Based in Britain since 1987, he was previously CFO and served as Head of Finance and deputy to the Group CFO of O2 plc from 2001 to 2005. Prior to joining O2 he held senior positions in banking with
Bernard Dwyer founded PDH Scaffolding Ltd in 1984. The company enjoyed early success on the back of major project wins and an ever expanding client base. It has now grown to become one of the biggest independent, self-sufficient access providers in Britain. In 2012, PHD Modular Access was named as LOCOG’s official partner for delivering ramps, steps, structural and bridging packages to the London
Banque Nationale de Paris and in the corporate sector with Exel plc and Waste Management International plc. He is currently Chairman of Tesco Mobile, and a non-executive director of the Guardian Media Group. Mr Dunne is a fellow and former council member of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
pharmaceutical and healthcare developments. Since joining Dornan Engineering in 2002 Derek has successfully delivered on major projects throughout Ireland. A move to London in 2009 established Dornan Engineering Services Ltd in Westminster, while a lucky break from a former Dornan client in Britain led to the company’s first major project with Mace in Newbury. Dornan now employs over 500 people across Britain.
2012 Olympic Games. Last year the company, whose CEO is Jane Dwyer, was awarded a Health, Safety and Environment award by Barts Hospital. Major recent projects for the company in London have included work on Europe's largest glazed atrium at King’s Cross and a bespoke hanging scaffold for Leadenhall’s ‘Cheesegrater’ skyscraper.
John Dwyer
Ciaran Fahy
PARTNER, PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ELLERMAN HOTELS
John Dwyer, a University College Dublin Commerce degree graduate from Dundalk, is Global Deals Leader at Price Waterhouse Coopers working across the company’s Deals umbrella including Business Recovery and Corporate Finance. Specialising in Transaction Services, John ran the British TS business between 2007 and 2011 and is now an Executive
Board Member at PWC. He remains chairman of the Irish Youth Foundation, a role he took on in 2011 and has been a trustee of the charitable trust since 2004. He continues to be involved in many of the charity’s fundraising activities, including the infamous poker nights organised with celebrity chef Richard Corrigan. He resides in Belsize Park in London with his family.
Since training at the Shannon College of Hotel Management, Ciaran Fahy has accumulated more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. The awardwinning manager counts London Marriot Kensington and the Swallow International Hotel London among his past employers and Ciaran was Managing Director
at the 230-room Cavendish Hotel London. Whilst at the Cavendish, Ciaran developed a comprehensive business plan and in doing so helped to reposition the hotel as one of the leading 4-star guesthouses in the capital. He joined Ellerman Hotels in October 2012. The Lucan native counts rugby, cooking and music among his interests.
Liam Fahy
Gary FitzGerald
SHOE DESIGNER & FOUNDER, LIAM FAHY LONDON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ACTION ON ELDER ABUSE
Born to an Irish father and English mother in Zimbabwe Liam Fahy studied footwear at DeMontfort University in Leicester, where he was awarded the Linea-Pelle footwear design award and the Drapers Footwear Designer of the Year award. Having graduated in 2006, he won the first ever Fashion Fringe Accessory Award in 2008, judged by Manolo Blahnik, Colin McDowell and Rupert Sanderson, with whom he
Having served almost 14 years as Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse Gary Fitzgerald has previously worked for over 20 years within Local Government Social Care provision, focusing on all aspects of care of older people. Of Irish extraction, he is also a trustee of The Silver Line, Esther Rantzen’s organisation working to prevent loneliness in older people. Gary has been involved in the management
worked before setting up his own luxury women’s footwear brand. Each one of Liam’s heels, on average the most expensive in the world, are handmade in limited editions using the finest Italian tanneries and factories. Each piece is embellished with a nickel sole signature that requires as much time to produce as an entire shoe.
Sean Fitzpatrick
of care services, meals on wheels and residential homes during his career and has a special interest in equality and social inclusion issues. He is an active campaigner and media spokesperson across Britain and Ireland on elder abuse. AEA was established in 1993 and counts investigative journalist Donal McIntyre among its supporters.
Gerry Flynn FOUNDER, ENJOY TRAVEL
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, VGC GROUP Sean Fitzpatrick, from Cavan, has guided VGC into a major company which makes a significant contribution to British construction. Before moving into the industry, he trained as a teacher at St. Mary’s College in Twickenham and taught at The Cardinal Wiseman in Greenford. Sean is an active supporter of his
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community and has been Chairman of the Board at Botwell School, Trustee and Treasurer for the AP Taylor Trust and Harlington Hospice. He has also chaired the West London Irish Society and the St. Patrick’s Festival Ball Committee. Sean is a family man who lives in West London and has four daughters.
Ballina-born Gerry Flynn joined Bórd Fáilte, the Irish Tourist Board, as a representative in 1968. The Mayo native worked at their Manchester office before becoming Regional Manager overseeing both Manchester and Glasgow. In 1989, the Mayo man founded Enjoy Travel with his wife Susan. Passionate about music,
Gerry ran a dance band who would go on to enjoy a residency at Manchester’s renowned Carousel Club. Enjoy Travel provides a range of holiday events from weekend breaks to fortnights in the sun to suit all tastes and cater for those looking to enjoy a unique holiday featuring the best of Irish, British and international entertainment.
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Kevin Gallagher
Kathleen Garrett PARTNER, ARTHUR COX
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, CHANNEL 4 Kevin Gallagher has been Channel 4’s Chief Information Officer since 2009 and is responsible for the station’s 160strong IT department and technology strategy. Since launching in 1982, Channel 4 has spent the last 30 years creating its own unique brand of edgy TV, something Kevin is keen to embrace
and continue. “We must keep the core channel and content strong and everything else builds on that,” he says of his work that supports the channel’s multi-platform media across a multiple of sister channels and brands including More4, Film4, 4seven, E4 and its online 4 On Demand service, which launched in 2006. Kevin credits early career mentoring with some of his success today.
Kathleen Garrett trained with Arthur Cox and has been a partner in the firm since 1998. During her time at the firm Kathleen has advised on high profile and trail blazing finance transactions including the establishment of one of the first internet-only banks. Having initially trained in corporate recovery, this University College Dublin
graduate is an expert in debt restructuring, but today her role sees her heading up the London office of the top tier firm. Her recent work involves acting for Barclays Bank PLC providing acquisition finance in relation to Belfast's Titanic Quarter (formerly part of the Harland & Wolff Shipyard). Away from her desk, Kathleen’s interests include art, fashion, design, playing tennis and spending time with her family.
Conor Gearty PROFESSOR OF LAW, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
Basil Geoghegan MANAGING DIRECTOR OF UK
Conor Gearty graduated in law from University College Dublin before moving to Wolfson College, Cambridge to study for a Master’s Degree and PhD. In 1990 he moved to the school of law at King’s College London where he was first a senior lecturer, then a reader and from 1995 a professor. He was Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights from 2002-2009 and is Professor of Human Rights
One of Britain’s top investment bankers and educated at Trinity College Dublin, Basil Geoghegan has worked at banks including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank before joining Citigroup in 2011. Basil’s high-flying career has seen him advise on high-profile floatations and deals including the public offering of Aer Lingus and the Doyle family takeover of the Jurys Doyle Hotel Group. Basil is
Law in the LSE Law Department. Also a practicing barrister, he has published widely on terrorism, civil liberties and human rights. He has appeared in human rights cases in the House of Lords, the Court of Appeal and the High Court and has also been a visiting professor at the universities of Boston, Richmond, New South Wales and Sydney.
Robin Gill HEAD CHEF, THE DAIRY
BANKING AND BROKING, CITIGROUP also a patron of the Ireland Fund of Great Britain. Impressively, he has raised an Irish flag on top of Mount Everest and in doing so has raised more than £110,000 for the Forgotten Irish appeal. He splits his time between Dublin and London.
Alan Gleeson HEAD OF SALES & MARKETING KEELVAR.COM
Robin Gill has worked at a variety of prestigious establishments including a brief stint at Noma, Copenhagen. He now brings his wealth of experience to his own restaurant, The Dairy in London’s Clapham Old town, which opened last year. Working alongside the seasons, Robin sources the finest produce and grows a
selection of ingredients in his own urban garden. Having commenced his career at Dublin’s La Stampa Restaurant, Robin moved to London and Marco Pierre White’s legendary three Michelin starred The Oak Room before working at Ristorante Don Alfonso on Italy’s Amalfi Coast and later at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons before joining D&D London in May 2008 at Restaurant Sauterelle.
Rory Godson SENIOR PARTNER, POWERSCOURT
London-based Alan Gleeson is a digital and online marketing specialist with expertise in market entry, market strategy, business planning and B2B/ B2C sales. With an Economics degree and Masters in Management & Marketing from University College Cork, he moved to Britain in 1998, joining Barclays graduate programme before joining
the Clearlybusiness.com innovation unit — a joint venture between Barclays and Freeserve. An MBA from Oxford University followed before Alan set up the British operation of Palo Alto Software in 2004, later launching a new SaaS offering Liveplan.com in Europe. A board member of the IIBN since 2011, Alan joined Keelvar, an innovative VC backed enterprise SaaS company with offices in Cork and London, in 2013.
Michael Gooley CBE FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, TRAILFINDERS
Dublin-born Rory Godson began his career in journalism in the mid1980s and was a former deputy editor of the Sunday Tribune. Later he joined The Sunday Times and emigrated to London. Rory joined Goldman Sachs as European director of corporate communication and left the following year to set up Powerscourt. The financial PR company has won praise for its
Sheffield-born Michael Gooley traces his Irish roots on his father’s side to Michelstown Co. Cork. Michael founded Trailfinders in 1970. Since then he has spearheaded the travel business which has seen its staff force grow from four to more than 1,000 in 29 centres across Britain and Ireland. Trailfinders travel consultants have made arrangements for over 12.5million clients as of last year.
A rugby lover, Michael was selected for Irish schoolboys way back when and he knows nothing other than to cheer for Ireland.
Micheál Grace
Jonathan Grey
PARTNER, MASON HAYES CURRAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR, OVATION INCENTIVES
Micheál Grace is head of Mason Hayes Curran’s London office and a partner in the firm’s Financial Services Department. Originally from Oola in Co. Limerick, he attended boarding school in Cistercian College Roscrea, Tipperary. He advises institutional and private clients on Irish law aspects of project finance transactions, in particular financing
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advising to BP on the Gulf Spill and to News Corporation on the consequences of the phonehacking scandal. Last year, Powerscourt was voted one of the most influential financial PRs in the city.
renewable energy projects and wind farms. A graduate of University College Cork, Micheál was an accomplished student, a founding editor of the UCC Cork Online Law Review, a former Chair of the Society of Young Solicitors Ireland and is a member of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association. Micheál also lectures on the Law Society’s Certificate of Banking Law and Practice course. He is also an avid sports fan.
Jonathan Grey is Managing Director of Ovation Incentives, a technology focused performance improvement agency specialising in HR and channel sales environments. The company is currently ranked among the Sunday Times FastTrack 100 of fast growing, privately owned technology companies in Britain. Jonathan, an
IIBN founding director and Cork city native, founded GreatDaysOut.ie, an Irish gift experience company. He is also an investor and board member of Zartis.com, a social recruitment software platform. Before starting his own businesses in 1999, Jonathan Grey was a PR and online marketing specialist in San Francisco and London for Information Technology companies specialising in payment systems, encryption and smart cards.
at www.irishpost.co.uk
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John Griffin
Mark Guard FOUNDING ARCHITECT, GUARD
ENTREPRENEUR & CHAIRMAN OF ADDISON LEE
TILLMAN POLLOCK ARCHITECTS
After beginning training as an accountant John Griffin was later inspired to start his own business, founding Addison Lee in 1975 with one car. It now carries over 10million passengers and couriers over one million deliveries a year. Last year the company attracted a
significant investment from global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group. John is a Skills Ambassador for London and remains an active investor with a keen business eye. This autumn he teamed up with Change London to fund schoolbased air quality sensors in London as part of the AirSensa project.
Following work experience in Britain, Ireland and North America, Dubliner Mark Guard attended the University of Toronto School of Architecture. After completing a postgraduate degree at the Royal College of Art in London, he worked for the Richard
Rogers Partnership, Rick Mather Architects and Eva Jiricna Architects before setting up Mark Guard Architects in 1986. Guard Tillman Pollock was founded in 2002 with Steven Pollock and Keith Tillman. The award-winning practice consists of a team who specialise in developing elegant, functional and modernist design.
Patrick Harte BARRISTER, TEMPLE GARDENS
Mary Heaney EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, FUTURELEX
One of The Irish Post’s Legal 50 members for 2013, barrister Patrick Harte joined chambers in 2008 and was also called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013. Practising solely in crime, he enjoys a reputation as a confident and engaging advocate and has a busy Crown Court practice representing defendants accused of the full
Originally from Newry, Co. Down Mary Heaney is an entrepreneur, journalist and publisher. A former Editor of The Lawyer, she later set up Global Professional Media and a weekly magazine called Legal Week. Mary is now director of legal publishing company Futurelex, which includes online magazine the Global Legal Post. A leader in legal
range of criminal offences. Although Patrick’s practice is based principally in London and the South Eastern Circuit, he also accepts instructions nationwide. Patrick is a founding committee member of the London Irish Lawyers Association .
technology Mary has been chair of the judges at The Lawyer Awards, among others. She won the 2010 Co-operation Ireland peace prize — previous winners include Bill Clinton. Mary has lived in London for over 25 years having initially studied law at Belfast’s Queen's University.
Aidan Heavey
Tommy Hutchinson
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TULLOW OIL PLC
FOUNDER AND CEO I-GENIUS
Aidan Heavey is a founding director and shareholder of Tullow Oil plc and has played a key role in the development of the company, from its formation in 1985 to its current international status as a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production group.
Born in Co. Roscommon, Aidan is also a director of Traidlinks, an Irishbased charity established to develop and promote enterprise and diminish poverty in the developing world, particularly in Africa. He was educated in Clongowes, Co. Kildare, then at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin.
While travelling in Indonesia Tommy Hutchinson came up with the idea for i-genius — a world community of social entrepreneurs passionate about social and environmental change. “Indonesia is full of extraordinary people, and I thought, why don’t they connect with other people that I also
know in other countries?” he said of his ‘lightbulb’ moment. The Derry native began his career working with the National Union of Students and had previously worked for over a decade in the City of London in a diverse range of roles before i-genius began trading in 2008. It now operates in over 200 countries worldwide.
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THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Mary Kaye PARTNER, SGH MARTINEAU
HEAD OF COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, BBC Born in Co. Kildare, Chris Kane joined the BBC as Head of Corporate Real Estate and delivered a £2billion property transformation, in support of the BBC’s move to digital production. His job has included presiding over the redevelopment of BBC Broadcasting House in central London, the building of a new
Scottish headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow and developing the MediaCityUK scheme at Salford Quays. Educated at Trinity College Dublin, Chris also holds an MBA from the Henley Management College, as well as a Diploma in Project Management from the College of Estate Management.
Gerry Keany
Based in Birmingham, Mary was born and educated in Limerick. Today, she leads the family law team and is head of the private capital group at SGH Martineau, where she is known as “the name to note”. She is a highly respected family law practitioner who joined SGH Martineau LLP as a partner in 2006.
Mary came to Britain in 1977 but still visits family in Ireland several times a year. She enjoys driving around the country and, as a self-confessed foodie, enjoys seeking out the best culinary experiences she can find.
Harry Keogh COUTTS, MANAGING DIRECTOR
FOUNDER, CARA STATIONERY AND OFFICE SUPPLIES Gerry Keany was educated at the Institute of Technology in Sligo and at University College Dublin. Gerry has been at the forefront of the stationery and office supplies business for over 16 years. Based in Harrow, the company serves the whole of Britain, from Edinburgh to Cardiff, supplying a range of office supplies — even down to that vital office lubricant,
coffee. Gerry is a member of the Irish International Business Network, a supporter of community events and a fan of London Irish Rugby Club. Recently Cara Stationery was proud to sponsor the prizes at a “Ryder Cup” style game of golf in aid of the Lighthouse Benevolent Fund.
Stephen Keogh PARTNER, WILLIAM FRY
Harry Keogh has worked in the banking industry for 26 years, including a number of senior roles in international banking. In 1995, he was appointed Head of Retail Banking for Personal and Small Business customers for the RBS branch network in London. Harry founded and launched RBS Private Banking in 1999 and in 2004 became Managing Director of NatWest Private Banking.
In November 2009, Harry joined Coutts as Chairman of the Managing Partners of Coutts UK and Managing Partner for the client groups for Sports & Entertainment and Landed Estates. Harry is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and attended Harvard Business School on The General Management Programme.
Colm Kelleher PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL SECURITIES, MORGAN STANLEY
As partner and head of William Fry’s London office, Dublinborn Stephen is an accomplished lawyer specialising in private equity and venture capital work. He spent eight years in the US and one of his career highlights involved acting for a client who, over a five year period, acquired,
then sold, then re-acquired the same media business, making a significant profit along the way. “I am looking forward to the day they decide to sell it again!” he jokes. In his spare time Stephen enjoys a wide range of hobbies including music, sport and reading.
Joe Kelliher
Originally from Bandon in Co. Cork, Colm Kelleher — a graduate of Oxford University — has served as the President of Institutional Securities for Morgan Stanley since January 2013. He joined Morgan Stanley in 1989 having served four years at one of the world’s most prestigious
accountancy firms, Arthur Anderson in London. Former roles include executive vice president, co-president of institutional securities, chief financial officer and co-head of strategic planning. He has been director at Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc since 2011. Colm is one of nine children and spent his teenage years living in Warrington.
Louise Kennedy FASHION DESIGNER
LIFE PRESIDENT, KELLIHER INSURANCE GROUP A rebrand earlier this year saw The Kerry Group change its name to the Kelliher Insurance Group. An insurance and financial services company, it was established in 1986 by Joe Kelliher and soon became one of the most successful independent insurance brokers in England. Joe began working in the City of London, starting as messenger boy at L. Hammond & Co, in 1965, and began his own company 21 years
later. Today he is the lifetime president of Kelliher Insurance Group. A keen sportsman, Joe’s earlier sporting achievements have now given way to golfing. He is also a keen supporter of Chelsea FC and London Irish Rugby Club.
Brendan Kerr
Louise Kennedy is internationally recognised as one of Ireland’s most successful fashion designers. Her very first collection was bought by Ireland’s flagship luxury department store, Brown Thomas, which continues to stock the brand 30 years later. Mary Robinson, the first Irish female President, commissioned Louise to design her inauguration outfit in 1990 and she continued to dress the president during her time in office. Other supporters include Angelica
Huston, Meryl Streep and Beyoncé. In the mid 90’s Louise joined the British Fashion Council. In 2011, she launched the Louise Kennedy Bridal Room. 2013 marked 30 years in business and the launch of the ‘Kennedy Bag’ and Louise’s first signature fragrance. In April, Louise was one of the chosen designers to dress Sabina Higgins, wife of President Higgins, during the state visit to Britain.
Andy Kerman SENIOR PARTNER, KERMAN & CO
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KELTBRAY Brendan Kerr is owner and chief executive officer of Keltbray — a specialist engineering, construction, decommissioning and environmental services business — and has overall responsibility, its strategic direction. Under his leadership Keltbray has developed into a company priding itself on its engineering prowess and commitment to sustainability, with a
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dedication to preserving historical heritage through complex engineering schemes. And its demolition work at Bishopsgate in London, incorporating advanced archaeological excavation, underlines this ethos. Currently, Keltbray’s projects range from the demolition of the Heygate Estate in London to nuclear decommissioning work at Magnox’s Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station in North Wales.
Both founding partners at Kerman & Co have Irish roots. Andy Kerman’s mother is from Wexford. Both he and Managing Partner Daniel O’Connell founded the firm in 1998. Prior to this, he and Daniel had worked together as partners in Forsyte Kerman, a firm founded by Andy’s father, Isidore Kerman, in 1927. Andy completed
his law degree at King’s College London and was admitted as a solicitor in 1971. During a long career in the law he has advised heads of state, entrepreneurs and people from all walks of life in Britain and abroad on a wide range of contentious and non contentious matters, both in relation to their business and personal affairs.
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is now in its 17th year of operation and has experienced an exponential but controlled growth. The continued advancement, reinvestment and progress over the years, has culminated in GCL being rated as one of the top 12 concrete frame contractors in the UK.
The following are our core services on offer: I Demolition I Bulk Excavation & Disposal I Underpinning I Temporary Works Design I Ground Treatment & Remediation I Civil Engineering Works I Ground works I Insitu Concrete Frames I Pre Cast Elements I Tower Crane Hire I Skip Hire The company has been actively involved in securing and completing packages ranging between £1,500,000 to £15,000,000 in the following sectors: I Industrial and Commercial I Residential schemes I (both Social & Private) I Schools and Hospitals I Civil Engineering Works I Leisure Facilities
We have relocated to our new Head Office in Welwyn Garden City, allowing the company to be able to undertake works within the London M25 and Home Counties region. Various storage depots located within this region including the main distribution yard in Welwyn Garden City, helps simplify the logistics and support of sites to an extent that progress on site is always continuous. 2-3 Little Burrow, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Tel: 020 8238 7000 Email: info@groundconstruction.com Web: www.groundconstruction.com
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Pat King CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER THE DOYLE COLLECTION Formerly Chief Financial Officer of The Doyle Collection, Pat King has steered the luxury boutique hotel group to ever greater success. Founded 50 years ago, today the company’s 11 hotels across six cities, in Ireland, England and the US, have a total of 2,150 bedrooms. In London alone the company owns the
luxurious Bloomsbury, Kensington and Marylebone hotels. Pat has played a key role in the €200million reorganisation and refurbishment of its hotels since 2007. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a former president of the Irish Association of Corporate Treasurers.
Howard Kingston received a valuable early lesson on how to manage and market a business by helping to run his family’s guesthouse Kilpatrick House in Wicklow. In 2001 he founded his first startup, MixitMuzik, which went on to become a very successful events and promotions company. Other successful business
ventures and training followed, and in 2012 Howard co-founded Future Ad Labs. The company’s aim is to bring bringing better advertising formats and improved user experience to the digital world. As well as his business interests, Howard is a lecturer in marketing at General Assembly London and he also writes for the Huffington Post. He is also a volunteer for the Global non-profit Startup Weekend.
Michael Kingston PARTNER DWF
Valerie Lawlor PARTNER MCCANN FITZGERALD
London-based Michael Kingston is a partner in the DWF law firm. He specialises in dispute resolution, and also works on international oil pollution issues. He was heavily involved in looking into regulatory reviews, including Health and Safety Executive issues, following the Macondo Oil Spill. He works closely with Lloyd’s, and Lloyd’s Market Association, as well as traders, salvors and ship-owners.
Alongside Hugh Beattie, Valerie Lawlor overseas McCann Fitzgerald’s London office. Valerie obtained her Bachelor of Civil Law from University College Dublin and her senior role at McCann now sees her advise generally on corporate and commercial matters. She is, however, often called upon for her expertise in the energy sector. Valerie has advised significant
As a leading lawyer in the city, this October he won an international industry award, which he dedicated to the memory of his father who died in the Whiddy maritime disaster of 1979. The Goleen Cork native picked up the Maritime Lawyer of the Year award in London at the prestigious Lloyd’s List Global Awards 2014.
energy industry participants on market projects, transactions and regulatory issues. Valerie is part of the company’s London operation in Old Broad Street. McCann FitzGerald was the first major Irish law firm to establish offices in London in 1986.
John Leahy OPERATIONS DIRECTOR ZUTEC
Éamon Lynam
TECHNOLOGIES LTD
DIRECTOR KYLEMORE SERVICES LTD
Zutec, headquartered in Ireland but represented across the globe, is bringing true BIM, Building Information Management, into play. Over the last few years the company, led by Waterford Man John Leahy, has transitioned to an information management company where data, and not scanned documents, is the key currency on
construction sites. This has allowed Zutec, who undertook pioneering work on London’s Shard building, to build a web-based solution that collects data in flexible tables, which can be stored, manipulated and reported on in a variety of ways. It has also allowed the company to equip project managers and consultants with tablets, mobile devices, on site allowing for real time collection of data in the field.
Éamon Lynam has been employed in the Building Services Engineering Industry for over 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of the construction industry. He started as a commercial apprentice in the early 1980s and went on to form a Quantity Surveying Practice with
Michael Quinn — Quants Surveying Services LLP — which is a sister company to Kylemore Services Ltd. Eamon attended Salvatorian College School in Harrow Weald and is married with four children. He lives in Co. Fermanagh but commutes weekly to London. High profile projects have included the 2012 Olympic Stadium, London, BBC Broadcasting House London and the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
Liam Lynch FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR LYNCH PLANT HIRE AND HAULAGE LTD
Colm Lyon FOUNDER & CEO REALEX PAYMENTS
Liam Lynch came to London from Co. Mayo at the age of 17 to work in the construction industry. He soon took an interest in plant machinery and started his business Lynch Plant Hire in Cricklewood. Through Liam’s determination to succeed the company grew quickly into a nationwide business of which he continues to be managing director. Liam’s sons Merrill and Rob started in the business from an early
Since starting Realex Payments in Dublin in 2000, Colm Lyon has led the business to be one of Europe’s largest and most successful online payments businesses, processing in excess of £24billion per annum. The company employs 170 people and has offices in London and Dublin. Colm has worked in financial services related businesses for over 25 years including 14 years in banking and is a regular speaker at
age and have worked in every position in the business during their teens and early twenties. Today they are both directors. During on-going regeneration of Millbay Docklands in Plymouth, Lynch Plant Hire provided a comprehensive 24-hour on-call service for the provision of heavy equipment.
Sinéad Mac Lua SENIOR LAWYER BANK OF IRELAND GROUP LEGAL SERVICES Sinéad Mac Lua trained as a lawyer in London with Harris Rosenblatt & Kramer where, after 15 years, she became a partner. In 2003 Sinéad joined Bank of Ireland’s Group Legal Services team in London where she is a senior lawyer. Sinéad’s career has concentrated on dispute resolution work in banking,
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Howard Kingston CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FUTURE AD LABS
property, professional negligence matters as well as fraud, insolvency and multiparty claims. Serving on the Advisory Committee of the Irish Youth Foundation, she is also a member of the Women’s Irish Network, Irish Heritage and attends events hosted by the All Parliamentary Group on the Irish in Britain.
industry events. Colm graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Management Science Degree. In recent years he has spent time in Harvard and Stanford Business School with the Leadership 4 Growth programme and has won numerous industry accolades.
Ronan Maguire FOUNDING PARTNER, MAGUIRES With offices in London and Manchester legal firm Maguires was founded in 2008 by Ronan Maguire. His career has included high profile cases including a recent successful appeal to overturn a murder conviction. Ronan’s first job was as a criminal litigation clerk in his native
Enniskillen in 1993. He qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and has over 20 years’ experience in criminal law. He grew up on a farm, as one of seven children, in the small village of Kinawley and says that being born two weeks after Bloody Sunday may have something to do with his interest in justice.
at www.irishpost.co.uk
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
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Kylemore Services Ltd Specialist Building Services Leading the way in understanding the needs of clients to achieve the best possible engineering solutions on major projects in London and the South East We have undertaken mechanical and plumbing expertise on many high profile projects such as The Shard, Westfield Stratford and The Olympic Stadium Kylemore Services are at the forefront of future works on Battersea Power Station redevelopment and West Ham Stadium redevelopment
www.kylemore.co.uk
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Client satisfaction is the measure of our success and we aim to provide a first-class service, at the right price and on time. Address: Kylemore Services Limited Heron House 109 Wembley Hill Road Wembley, Middlesex HA9 8DA
Contact: Michael Quinn or Eamon Lynam michaelq@kylemore.co.uk eamonl@kylemore.co.uk
TEL:020 8795 1083 21
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
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Vanessa Markey HEAD OF GREAT BRITAIN,
Maurice Martin DIRECTOR MICROSOFT UK’S
TOURISM IRELAND
SERVER AND CLOUD BUSINESS
Vanessa Markey joined Tourism Ireland in 2012 as the tourism group’s new head of Great Britain, – the largest market for tourism to Ireland. A native of Trim in Co. Meath, Vanessa has extensive senior marketing experience, having worked with Bentley Motors and Jaguar Land Rover. At Tourism
Ireland, her main aim is to restore growth to the British market to the island of Ireland. A major review of the British market called GB Path to Growth, has led to ongoing plans to reverse the recent trend. Vanessa has embraced both traditional channels of advertising (print media, TV, radio), as well as social media.
Maurice Martin leads Microsoft UK’s Server and Cloud Business, responsible for overall go-tomarket strategy and business performance. Joining Microsoft nine years ago as the Director Of Platform Marketing, Maurice most recently spent five years at the Irish subsidiary before moving to
Britain. Prior to Microsoft, Maurice was part of the Carlyle European Software Venture fund based in London. Maurice lives in West Berkshire with his wife and four children and has a BAI, MA in Software Engineering & Maths from Trinity College Dublin, and a Masters in Computer Science.
Timothy Randall Martin FOUNDER & NON-
John Matthews MANAGING DIRECTOR GLOBAL
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, JD WETHERSPOON PLC
KEY CLIENTS, DEUTSCHE BANK
Founder of one of Britain's biggest chain of pubs, Tim Martin was born in the North of Ireland where he was educated at some 11 schools, before his family emigrated to New Zealand. Tim initially studied law at Nottingham University and qualified as a barrister. However, a life in the legal profession didn't appeal, so Martin swapped bars. He opened the first Wetherspoons in Muswell
John Matthews is Managing Director of private wealth management at Deutsche Bank. John graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in geology. A former St Mary’s College Dundalk pupil, he has an MSc from the University of London. John joined Deutsche Bank in 2007, and today manages a team of four bankers in the Key
Hill in 1979 when he was just 24 — naming it after a teacher who predicted he would never make it big in business. Today Wetherspoons has over 900 outlets, making Tim Martin one of the most successful pub owners in the country. This year the company also started an expansion into Ireland.
Tony McDaid PRACTICE DIRECTOR NO5
Sean McDonagh MANAGING DIRECTOR TONY MCDONAGH & CO LTD/NORTH LONDON INSURANCE GROUP
CHAMBERS Tony McDaid is the longest serving member of No5 Chambers’ administration team having joined in 1980. He qualified as a member of the Institute of Barristers Clerks in 1988 and was appointed Senior Clerk in 1992 before being promoted to the post of Practice Director in 1994. Sitting on the Professional
Practice Committee of the Bar Council, he is also a council member of the Birmingham Law Society, serving as chair of its International Committee. He is an executive member of the West Midlands Irish Business Group. Tony has three children and enjoys travel, good food and wine.
Bernard McEvoy PARTNER BROWN RUDNICK
Client unit — individuals or families with net worth in excess of €300million. Deutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with over 80,000 employees in 73 countries.
Tony McDonagh & Co. Limited was incorporated in 1971 and has subsequently established itself as one of Britain’s largest independently owned and progressive insurance brokers. The company structure also incorporates North London Insurance Group (NLIG Ltd). Under the guidance of Sean McDonagh
the company provides access to the insurance market, including Lloyd's and London markets for complex or specialist covers. “Our company has a very simple philosophy,” says Sean. “We are in business to achieve affordable insurance solutions. The aim of our company is to place customer satisfaction as a priority and build a reputation for reliability and professional advice.”
David McGrath CO-FOUNDER THE MCGRATH GROUP
Bernard McEvoy represents clients in financings, stock exchange admissions, mergers and acquisitions and both in and out of court restructurings. His cross-border practice has included transactions in Ireland, Britain, the US, Canada, South Africa, Botswana and Norway, while his clients span a wide range of industries such as food, agriservices, manufacturing, restaurants,
cinemas, mining, exploration and whiskey manufacturing. Prior to joining Brown Rudnick, Bernard — a University College Dublin graduate and charity supporter of the Irish Fund of Great Britain — founded McEvoy Partners, a Dublin boutique firm focusing on corporate finance in Britain and Ireland.
Geraldine McKenna PARTNER, CEDAR CAPITAL PARTNERS Born and educated in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Geraldine McKenna, in 2009, joined Cedar Capital Partners — a hotel investment firm. Prior to joining the firm, she held positions as CEO of Maybourne Hotel Group and as executive vice-president of the Savoy Group. Geraldine started her career with British
22
Airways and is still today a member of the British Airways International Business Advisory Board. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2002 and has previously held board positions including Visit London, Hartwell PLC and Walpole. Cedar Capital Partners are industry professionals with backgrounds in hotel operations, development, financing and acquisition.
Along with brothers Patrick and Mick, David McGrath established the McGrath Bros Waste Limited in 1972. Originally set-up to provide skip-hire services to the building sector in East London, under his stewardship the organisation has developed into a multi-disciplined organisation. The company has grown into a major player in the waste management sector employing over 180 staff with a turnover exceeding £35million. David’s
core philosophy of “waste as a resource” has kept the McGrath Group at the cutting edge of waste management technology. The company was first in Britain to develop a permanent aggregate washing plant and one of the first in London to supply certificated recycled aggregates to the Department of Transport standard.
Kevin McLaughlin FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR KM MCLAUGHLIN DECORATING LTD Kevin McLaughlin’s decoration contracts range in size from £1,000 to £3,500,000 — on schemes as diverse as social housing, refurbishments, hotels, interior design, property/facility management, heritage and all commercial areas. The company’s portfolio includes high profile projects such as The Savoy in The
Connaught and The Churchill — all hotels in London — as well as helping to fit out the British Museum, Lords Cricket Ground and Fulham Palace. In 2014 Kevin was awarded the OBE for services to skills training in the painting and decorating trade. The Islington native was born in London to Irish parents from Donegal and Kildare. A married father-of-five, he is currently a National Apprentice Ambassador.
In stores every Wednesday
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Helping you build a successful business Evans Mockler are a long established and dynamic firm of Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors. We specialise in both the construction industry and the property sector and a large proportion of our clients are first and second generation Irish. We are business and tax advisors and recognise that our clients require more than just annual compliance. We understand the many challenges that businesses face, particularly within the construction industry. We work closely with our clients to ensure that they overcome these challenges and achieve their goals. Kindly contact Martin Mockler, Mike Evans or Simon Toghill on 020 8449 9632 if you would like to discuss our range of services and to find out how Evans Mockler can help you build your business.
elp you build your business.
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23
Reach the right people with Sir David McMurtry
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Tom Mitchell T MITCHELL & CO PLANT HIRE
CHAIRMAN OF RENISHAW PLC This year’s Irish Post Technology Award winner Sir David McMurtry CBE is the founder of Renishaw plc, a world leader in the supply of metrology equipment. Raised in Dublin, he joined Bristol Aero Engines in 1958. He later became Deputy Chief Designer and
Assistant Chief of Engine Design at Rolls-Royce in Filton. In 1972, whilst working on Concorde’s engines, he invented the world’s first touchtrigger probe. In 1973 McMurtry and Rolls-Royce colleague John Deer created Renishaw to commercialise the invention under license. He was awarded the CBE in 1994 and was knighted in 2001.
Tom Mitchell was born in Maugherow, Co Sligo in 1944. He moved to London in 1963, labouring by day and cleaning offices by night. After practising on a machine during his breaks it wasn’t long before he was operating one full time for Laings. Starting out on his
own in 1973 with just one JCB loader, he built T. Mitchell & Co Plant Hire up to a fleet of over 30 construction vehicles by the 1980s. Together with his wife and son the company now offers a full range of modern plant operated or self-drive throughout the south-east of England.
Martin Mockler
Michael Moran FOUNDER & OPERATIONS
MANAGING PARTNER EVANS MOCKLER
DIRECTOR MP MORAN & SONS LTD
Tax planning expert Martin Mockler is Managing Partner of Evans Mockler — an established London-based firm of Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors. Delivering efficient and effective tax planning solutions, Martin and his team allow entrepreneurs to minimise their tax liabilities and maximise their free cash. These
Michael Moran left his native Mayo in the 1960s, emigrating to England. In London he worked as a carpenter on building sites. In 1976, having spotted a gap in the market, he opened a hardware store on Kilburn's busy High Road, which flourished and set up the foundation for a group that would eventually employ over 180 people.
solutions are designed to ensure that taxes that bite once you create wealth such as Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax are mitigated and reduced. The firm also has experience in dealing with non-domiciled British residents and large corporations in Britain.
Four other branches followed, in West Hampstead, Kennington, Willesden and Watford in 2009. Today his stores provide everything from materials for major building projects to equipment for garden landscaping.
Tom Moran MANAGING DIRECTOR MORAN &
Sean Mulryan
BEWLEY’S HOTELS GROUP
CHAIRMAN OF BALLYMORE GROUP
With over 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Tom Moran oversees the overall operation of Moran & Bewleys Hotels, a group that employs over 1,200 people. Tom began his career in London in the ’70s where he and his wife Sheila
managed a number of pubs. In 1996 the Red Cow Moran Hotel, Dublin – the group’s flagship hotel – opened. In 1998 Tom bought The Crown pub in Cricklewood, developing the adjacent Crown Moran Hotel. In 2008 the Moran Group purchased Bewley’s Hotels. Tom is an avid GAA fan and also enjoys walking and gardening.
As 2014’s Irish Post Outstanding Contribution to Business in Britain Award winner Sean Mulryan is the founder and chairman of the international property development company, Ballymore Group. He is one of Ireland’s most successful businessmen. Sean founded Ballymore
Group in 1982 at the age of 26 and as chairman has grown the company into one of Britain and Ireland’s largest property developers. In 2014, Ballymore engaged Lazard and CBRE Group to raise close to €2.5bn to fund the Nine Elms development in London. Roscommon-born Sean lives with his wife Bernadine and his five children in Kildare.
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Handheld digital health device Pip from Galvanic is another Irish start-up expanding into Britain
The future is in Irish hands As the Irish economy awakens from its slumber, IT start-ups are flourishing but when it comes to investment the lure of London is still strong. Pádraig Belton reports
O
F LATE, in the stratospheric reaches of the London tech scene, Irish accents are more and more abundant. Dylan Collins, one high-flying London Irish serial entrepreneur and CEO of the children’s marketing platform SuperAwesome, says the Dublin and London ecosystems are growing “a little closer”, partly because “while Ireland always is a good place to start a company, from a scaling perspective, people are starting to think of London a little bit more”. “Ireland’s a little country at the end of the day,” agrees Conor Carmody, whose Dublin Business Innovation Centre provides strategic advice to start-ups in the technology sector. “And lots of people do the seed-funding stage here, and then to expand start looking to their next nearest neighbour.” After years of post-Tiger austerity, a recovering Ireland has sprouted a new generation of nimble seeding investment funds, ones like Frontline Ventures which focuses on cloud services, payments, and large data — aggressive, founder-focused, and connected to Silicon Valley. The hustle of Enterprise Ireland in luring entrepreneurs to Dublin is generally praised as second internationally only to the government of Israel. Once the seeds have slightly germinated, however, the next, much larger Series A funding bids often involve a
...the challenge is finding a voice, not a niche – look at the size of London – 16 million, when Ireland is four million. To get heard of over here is quite challenging
David Ingram, CEO and founder, Galvanic
shift to London-based venture capital instead. The recovery of London over the past three years has recently drawn attention from both Dublin and Silicon Valley. “It feels, purely from a tech and internet perspective, suddenly Silicon Valley is waking up, saying look, there are interesting companies in London,” says Mr Collins. “In that respect, it’s only in the last 12 months it feels maybe London and Europe are starting to hit their stride in terms of the kinds of companies you can grow.” There also is a punt on London for many Irish tech start-ups as a first stab at international expansion. In 2002, Ronan Perceval and a friend founded Phorest, a package which helps hairdressing salons with all aspects of their business. It is now used by a thousand salons. “Of the four million salons, and the 30 to 40 thousand in Britain,’ says Mr Perceval, “95 per cent are owner-operated. The people who run them tend to leave school early on, turn out to be pretty good at cutting hair, and branch out to put their name over their own salon, but with no business experience whatsoever.” Phorest’s software, he says, offers these hairdressers tools to manage administrative tasks from stock control, VAT tracking, to client records and marketing. Branching into the British market on the back of a series of 25
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Make our news your business
Sinéad Finn moderates at a London tech conference
inexpensive flights from Dublin and staying on the sofas of friends, Mr Perceval’s company now is third in that market, and growing by a rate which would have it overtake the market leader in three years. Another Irish start-up now expanding into British shores is David Ingram’s company Galvanic, producer of a handheld digital health device called Pip, which measures stress levels associated with sweat, and assists people to manage their anxiety by playing a game where relaxing confers a competitive advantage. (The product had been researched and patented in 2007, but the company doing this did not survive the downturn.) “Ten million days are lost annually in relation to stress in Britain,” says Mr Ingram. Galvanic also had the advantage, in navigating the British market, of having a fair number of British investors. (His was the first company to raise over $100,000 on Kickstarter, he adds.) By contrast, he says, “the challenge is finding a voice, not a niche — look at the size of London — 16 million, when Ireland is four million. To get heard of over here is quite challenging.” For Dublin IT firm Trilogy Technologies, with its focus on cloud software and managed infrastructure, acquiring a London company in January was its way of edging into the British market. Founder Edel Creely, who also chairs the Irish Software Association, says the 26
integration between the two has gone well, and employees from the Irish office have moved over. “Young, free, and single, you know,” she describes them, “and wanted to
move to London. And some people over there thought Dublin was a great place — there’s so much more mobility in the market than there ever was, and IT skills in particular are so transferrable.” Within Ireland, she says, there has been quite significant recent visa reform under the current Government, making it easier for technology companies to recruit needed talent from overseas. There are also, too, the emigrants who benefited from the expanded tertiary education opportunities of the Tiger years — Ireland now boasts the EU’s highest percentage of 30 to 34year-olds with tertiary education — and after time working in London for larger corporations, then handed in their notice to begin nimble, start-up Celtic kittens. Jules Coleman is one. Her start-up Hassle.com, which connects cleaners with those searching for them, began its life in London, and is now expanding back to Ireland as it scales up. “So we had absolutely no idea how to start,” said Miss Coleman, a 2006 economics and finance graduate from University College Dublin, who five years later had become a senior manager at Price Waterhouse Cooper. “Maybe we’d go to our bank manager and borrow money and hire a team in India to build a website.” She bought a book called Ruby on Rails, which teaches basic coding, and ultimately how to build a version of Twitter. “So basically on that,” she says, “I packed in my job, rang my two friends, and scared the daylights out of them.” In November 2011, Coleman left her job, and the next spring was accepted into a London accelerator programme then called Springboard (it has since been renamed TechStars). From several hundred early-stage start-up applicants, the programme selects 10 for a 12-week mentoring programme based in the Google Campus buildings, culminating in pitching in front of 200 investors, which Hassle.com did in July 2012. In 2012, Hassle.com had attempted to provide a booking space for a wide range of services, and had foundered; over Christmas 2012, noticing that housecleaners were the most searched-for category, Miss Coleman and her two co-founders rebuilt the website, and relaunched it in January 2013. It then found its feet. “We thought we were being lean,” she says, “but the idea we would begin a company that would do 25 different things was laughable. Go back and say if Ronan Perceval co-founder of Phorest
at www.irishpost.co.uk
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Jules Coleman, right, and her co-founders at Hassle.com
you think you’re small, try smaller.” That their expansion back to Dublin proved a success surprised Miss Coleman and her two cofounders. “I wasn’t sure it would work — nobody had a cleaner when I was growing up.” She says her website provides a safer way for cleaners, many of them accession-country female migrants working below the level of their education, to meet clients than by answering adverts off Gumtree. Tomás O’Leary runs Origina, which offers maintenance for IBM software installations, more cheaply than IBM. His company has moved into the London market in the past year. “We actually found a very nice gap in the market,” he says. “There were a number of companies who could do what we do, but very few or any were wholly focussed on it.” And coming to London, says Mr O’Leary, was “an absolutely crucial decision in our evolution as a business. I guess it’s the next best thing to being in the United States, as an Irish company — it’s not nearly as big a market, but it tends to punch above its weight and have influence in European level in a number of core industries like banking and finance.” For Waterford-founded Stitcherads, a start-up Facebook advert platform which moved to London two years ago and has recently expanded into Texas, London “has been a great springboard for us, helping us to be close to our online retail customers”, says Richard Delevan. (Mr Delevan jokes that with the expansion his company “has quickly become the world’s smallest multinational”.) This panoply of London Irish voices
proliferating in the global tech scene, says economist Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, reflects the fact that London offers two key opportunities for Irish tech startups and early-stage ventures. It offers a testing ground for business models
...coming to London was an absolutely crucial decision in our evolution as a business. I guess it’s the next best thing to being in the United States, as an Irish company
Tomás O’Leary CEO and founder of Origina
and services, significantly more competitive and intensive than Dublin. It is a doorway to the global market for access both to potential users and to auxiliary services. “Increasingly,” says Dr Gurdgiev, “venture capital investors trading globally, as opposed to those based in Dublin, offer much more than cash to early stage ventures they support. They bring in connections, joint venturing opportunities and links to larger complementary services providers. In addition, London is well within the Irish exporters’ ‘comfort zone’ — a market historically closely aligned with and a major hub for Irish talent.” There also is another pull factor, says Dr Gurdgiev — with US hubs of technology sector development increasingly starved of new ideas and over-saturated with venture capital funding, larger venture capital funds are flooding to London in hopes of capturing more European start-up activities. This creates tremendous pools of liquidity in London, though pushing down effective yields on funding. So where does it all head — between this excess liquidity in London, and a rising pressure on Irish start-ups to up their game? At some point, the trend will impel DublinLondon based ventures to move further east, towards less traditional markets for Irish companies. Dr Gurdgiev says: “The comfort zone of London will have to be swapped for unfamiliar lands beyond Old Europe, where younger consumers dominate.” And this will be the key challenge for Tech Team London Irish in the coming days. 27
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In stores every Wednesday
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Dr. Gerard Murphy NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC Irish-born, now living in Britain, Dr Gerard Murphy is a member and chairman of the executive committee of the Blackstone Group International Partners LLP, a member of the management committee of Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd and a
board member of United Biscuits among others. His earlier career included various management roles in Ireland, Britain and the US. Dr Murphy is married and enjoys outdoor sports including running, hiking with his wife and scubadiving with his two sons. He supports Liverpool and the Irish rugby team.
Hugh P Murphy CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHARLES STREET BUILDINGS LTD The Charles Street Buildings, based in the East Midlands, grew out of Murphy Bros. In the 1930s, six brothers left South Armagh and settled in and around Leicester. Hughie and Paddy Murphy founded their civil engineering business in 1945. Today, Hugh P Murphy (son of
Paddy) is chairman and chief executive of Charles Street Buildings, a property investment and development company with 14 fully-owned subsidiary companies which own over 6,000,000 sq ft of investment property across all sectors throughout Britain. Leicester-born Hugh’s parents came from Co. Kildare and Co. Armagh.
Denis Nolan FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
John Nugent CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GREEN
TOUREEN MANGAN
& FORTUNE
Founded in 1991 by Denis Nolan originally in his family’s home, Toureen Mangan is a London-based company that is constantly striving to help construction projects remain economically viable by providing a range of specialist construction services. Throughout the past two decades, the company’s portfolio of specialist
services has expanded to include major demolition, groundworks and civil engineering, multi-level basement construction, high-rise reinforced concrete frames, petrol forecourt and retail development, land remediation and ground treatment.
Damon Oldcorn FOUNDER WILDIRISHGUY LTD Damon Oldcorn is best described as an entrepreneurial businessman in the technology markets. He is currently on the advisory boards of WDSi, Warman Media, and Gravity to help them accelerate their business growth and market penetration. He also
supports the Bulldog Trust and the Irish International Business Network where he is one of the founding directors. Damon is based at his Private Members Club at 8 Northumberland Avenue. He sees the club as a way to help young companies bridge the gap between innovation and execution at an affordable cost in Central London.
As a student, John Nugent worked in hotels and on ferries, before attending catering college in Dublin. Subsequently he moved to London and began working at the Thistle Tower Hotel in Tower Bridge, where he ran the back of house operations. In 2008 John founded his own company, Green & Fortune, a business that encompasses three
brands — Rotunda Bar, Restaurant and Private Dining; Green & Fortune Café; and Kings Place — an arts, conference and commercial building in Kings Cross. John’s expertise includes developing new businesses and creating bespoke hospitality services.
Thomas O’Brien OWNER & DIRECTOR, O'HALLORAN AND O’BRIEN LTD Born in Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo in 1947 Thomas O’Brien and came to London in 1965. He worked for a number of years on construction sites where he met Billy O’Halloran and founded O’Halloran & O’Brien Ltd in 1972. The company initially concentrated
on groundwork and civil engineering and enjoyed steady growth. In 2002 Tom took sole ownership. The O’Halloran & O’Brien Group has become a well-respected name within the construction industry, with clients including Barrett Homes, Willmot Dixon, Taylor Wimpey and Fairview New Homes.
Daniel O’Connell MANAGING PARTNER KERMAN & CO Daniel ‘Donal’ O’Connell was born in Tipperary Town. He studied law at University College Dublin, was admitted as a solicitor in Ireland in 1988, and subsequently in England and Wales in 1991. He co-founded Kerman & Co with Andy Kerman. Daniel trained with William Fry in Dublin before moving to London in 1988. A sporting enthusiast, Daniel
has played rugby for Clanwilliam RFC and Bective Rangers RFC and also has a keen interest in horse racing. He has recently become a publican, acquiring Temple Bar which he hopes will provide a sporting venue for the legal profession in the Temple area.
Paul O’Donnell MANAGING DIRECTOR POD-TRAK LTD Donegal native Paul O’Donnell cut his teeth on Dublin construction sites as a teenager before working for a British-based contractor specialising in the supply and installations of Electrical Systems for the Rail Infrastructure on the LUAS Line. He moved to
Britain with that company and two years later, in 2006, set up on his own, aged just 23. Pod-Trak Ltd was established in 2007 and now has offices in Perivale and Manchester. Paul also acquired Newcastle company A&M Electrical in 2013. A family man, Paul is involved in a number of charities including the Donegal Golf Charity.
Jacqueline O’Donovan MANAGING DIRECTOR, O’DONOVAN WASTE DISPOSAL LTD O’Donovan (Waste Disposal) Ltd grew out of business started by Joe O’Donovan from west Cork in the 1950s. Tragically, Joe died suddenly in 1985, aged just 51, leaving his family to take control of the business. The brothers and sisters all have directorship roles within the organisation and with Jacqueline as managing director, the company is
now one of London’s largest and leading independent waste management companies, with over 100 staff and an impressive array of fleet and plant. Jacqueline is also a specialist member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.
29
Reach the right people with Dermot O’Grady CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ARDENT
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Eddie O’Kane FOUNDER O’KANE IRISH FOODS
TIDE LTD Dermot O’Grady has worked on tax and employment issues within the construction Industry since arriving from Ireland in 1989. He began his career as an accountant, providing accounting and tax advice to construction businesses. Dermot’s business specialises in working with construction companies who
Derry-born Eddie O’Kane established O’Kane Irish Foods in Wembley in late 2003 to satisfy demand in Britain for branded Irish food products. Currently you will find a ‘Taste of Ireland’ section in over 400 British supermarkets with all the major British multiple retailers Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons
involved. In 2006 YourIrishShop.com was set up online, followed in 2012 by O’Kane Direct Ltd which provides supply to smaller retailers and the Irish pub trade in Britain. To date customers include, Selfridges, Budgens, Londis, Nisa, Costcutter as well as many independent stores and pubs. Eddie lives in Harrow with wife Maureen, twin sons Lorcan, Killian and daughter Daragh.
Gerard O’Keeffe HEAD OF GB BUSINESS, AIB GB
Dermot O’Leary TV PERSONALITY
Gerard O’Keeffe is in charge of AIB’s business banking operation in Britain, Allied Irish Bank (GB), where it operates through a network of 21 branches across major cities in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as offering a number of direct banking channels for personal customers. During his 11 year tenure at AIB, Gerard has has held senior positions in risk, finance and
Best known for his role hosting ITV’s The X Factor, a job he landed back in 2007, Dermot O’Leary cites listening to Brendan Shine with his family — whose roots are in Wexford — as his formative experience in light entertainment. He spent the early part of his career as a researcher, going on to establish the hugely successful T4 for Channel 4. He also presented Dermot’s Sporting Buddies for BBC3, which
strategic development across the bank in both Ireland and Britain, as well as the US. Gerard graduated in law from University College Dublin; he also also holds qualifications from Cranfield University, Institute of Bankers of Ireland and the Institute of Taxation.
was made by Murfia, his own production company. Showing his charitable side, this year Dermot joined fellow celebs Keith Lemon and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson in a video to raise awareness of male cancer, including prostate, bowel and testicular cancer, which kills 19,381 British men each year.
Maeve O’Rourke BARRISTER, THOMAS
Ray O’Rourke EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, LAING
BINGHAM CHAMBERS
O’ROURKE
Killiney, Co. Dublin-born Maeve O’Rourke has an enviable CV. Called to the Bar in 2012 Maeve is best known for her tireless pro bono work with survivor advocacy group Justice for Magdalenes, which aims to secure compensation for survivors of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries.
Educated in University College Dublin, she moved stateside in 2010 to study at Harvard Law School. Last year, she was selected as the Jordan Publishing Family Law Awards 2013 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. She enjoys playing the fiddle in her spare time.
Ray O’Rourke KBE founded R O’Rourke & Son in 1977 following 10 years working and studying in the industry. He remains the major shareholder in the group, which has become a major force in the British construction industry. An Irish Post Outstanding Contribution to Business award-
winner IN 2013, Ray plays a major role in the strategic direction of Laing O’Rourke. Through his company he is an active supporter of a number of charities and good causes, including Cancer Research UK and the Integrated Education Fund of Northern Ireland. Ray is also nonexecutive director of Anglo American PLC.
Danny O’Sullivan FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN DANNY SULLIVAN GROUP
Ray O’Sullivan CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR,
The Danny Sullivan Group is one of the leading labour suppliers in London and the south-east. Danny came to London in the early 1970s aged 16, working for a number of years with John Murphy & Sons before forming his own company. He is a great supporter of charities, offering work as well as financial and medical assistance to young Irish people. He is a well-
John Sisk & Son — a member of the SISK Group — is an international construction group with projects and operations throughout Europe and as far afield as the United Arab Emirates, giving it a turnover odd more than €1billion. Construction director Ray O’Sullivan graduated from Waterford Institute of Technology with a BSc in construction management. Since joining SISK in 1997, the Birmingham-
known GAA supporter. As Chairman of the Kerry Association London Danny is a proud supporter of his home county. Each year he plays an active role in the selection of the Kerry Person of the Year Award, an accolade that is presented to an individual for their business, community or charity contribution.
JOHN SISK & SON based engineer has held various positions with the company. Ray has overseen many projects; currently the company is appointed carry out the design and construction of the Leamouth North Bridge spanning the River Lea between Canning Town Station and Ballymore’s new London Island Development in the Docklands.
Cliona O’Tuama FOUNDER CLIONA O’TUAMA
Oliver Peyton FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, PEYTON
SOLICITOR
AND BYRNE
Known as one of the leading experts on British-Irish tax planning, Cliona O’Tuama set up her own private law firm specialising in probate, tax and trusts work and charity law in 1994. Cliona read law at University College Dublin. She qualified as a solicitor in Ireland in 1977 and
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need to engage labour only subcontractors. Dermot is also heavily involved in the Lighthouse Club Charity, a construction based charity that strives to alleviate financial hardship experienced by those who work within the industry. He abides by one simple and achievable goal, "Let’s make construction a respectable industry that looks after its own."
subsequently sat examinations with the Irish Taxation Institute. Cliona is founder and president of the Irish Solicitors Bar Association, which hosts an annual charity Autumn Ball. The charity event has raised over £450,000 for good causes and groups helping children and young people.
Mayo man Oliver Peyton moved to England in 1979 and studied textiles at Leicester Polytechnic. He has subsequently established himself as a renowned restaurateur and TV personality. Oliver now oversees the restaurants and cafés for the majority of the capital’s famous galleries and parks, all of which adhere to his philosophy that
eating out should be fun. He is also a judge on BB2’s Great British Menu, and the author of two cookbooks. He has been awarded an OBE for his services to the hospitality industry. Oliver’s business has also expanded into bakery — Peyton and Byrne bakeries now trade at several locations across London. Oliver divides his non-working hours between his homes in West London and Cornwall.
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Siobhán Peyton MANAGING DIRECTOR, PEYTON AND BYRNE LTD Mayo-born Siobhán Peyton helped found Peyton and Byrne in 2005 along with her brother Oliver Peyton. Siobhán and Oliver's family members, Caitríona and Marie, are also involved in the business. In 2012 Peyton and Byrne underwent significant expansion thanks to a £6.25m investment from the Government-backed
Business Growth Fund. In October 2014 Peyton and Byrne opened the RA Grand Café in London’s Piccadilly following a refurbishment of the former restaurant at the Royal Academy of Arts. It offers a wide variety of seasonal dishes including fresh healthy grain salads, open sandwiches of crispy pancetta, caramelised walnuts and baby celery, and freshly sliced cured meats to share.
Michael Quinn companies are based in Wembley, Middlesex. Michael attended London Oratory School. He lives in Chiswick, and is married with two children.
Simone Rocha FASHION DESIGNER The daughter of renowned fashion designer John Rocha, Simone Rocha is a star in her own right. Born in Dublin in 1986, she graduated with a BA in Fashion from The National College of Art and Design in Dublin before further graduating from the acclaimed Fashion MA at Central Saint Martin’s College, London in 2010. Simone presented her first solo catwalk
show the following year during London Fashion Week. Now her designs are stocked by some of the most prestigious outlets around the world. As well as receiving the Emerging Womenswear Designer award at the British Fashion Awards 2013, she also received the Best Future Fashion Wallpaper Award 2013 and has recently been named Fashion Designer of Year at the 2014 Glamour magazine awards for inspirational women.
Andy Rogers CO-CHAIR, IRISH INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS NETWORK Andy Rogers is Chairman of The European Marketing Group and principal of Rogers Associates Ltd, a consultancy providing strategic advice and mentoring support at board level to European companies. He worked for Bank of Ireland for 38 years and holds a first class honours degree in business studies alongside a masters from Trinity College Dublin. He was one of the first recipients of the Irish
Paul Price received his MSc in investment and treasury from Dublin City University, and his Bachelor of Commerce from University College Dublin. He started his career in the mid-1980s with Bank of Ireland and during his 12year tenure held various roles both as a senior dealer and within the asset management business. Last
October Paul was named global head of distribution at Morgan Stanley Investment Management and has been a part of Morgan Stanley’s success story over the past year, with net inflows between June 2013 and June 2014 at $9.8 billion. Price joined the business in 2010 as head of international distribution. In July he was one of five nominees for the prestigious title Business Development of the Year.
Louise Richardson PRINCIPAL & VICE CHANCELLOR, ST. ANDREWS
OWNER & DIRECTOR, KYLEMORE LTD Michael Quinn has been employed in the building services engineering industry for over 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of the construction industry. He founded a quantity surveying practice, Quants Surveying Services LLP, which is a sister company to Kylemore Services Ltd with Eamon Lynam. Both
Paul Price HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION, MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Presidential Distinguished Service Award and is also a recipient of the Knight of St Gregory (KSG), an award granted by Pope Francis for Andy’s work for the Church and his long-standing involvement in the educational and voluntary sectors in Britain. He is married with three daughters.
Michael Rowe PARTNER, SLAUGHTER AND MAY
Born in Tramore, Co. Waterford, Professor Louise Richardson's glowing academic career has seen her receive a BA in history from Trinity College, Dublin, an MA in political science from the University of California and an MA and PhD in government from Harvard University. At the latter, she served as executive dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. In 2009, Louise became the first
female principal of St Andrews and oversaw last year’s 600th anniversary celebrations. She is the author of several publications including What Terrorists Want, an account of terrorism written after 9/11. Louise is married to Thomas Jevon, MD. They have three children, Ciara, Fiona and Rory.
Michael Roche
SENIOR PARTNER, ST. JAMES'S PLACE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Michael Roche is a senior partner of St. James's Place Wealth Management, which has funds under management amounting to £41.8billion. Brought up in Tullow, Co. Carlow and educated at Newbridge College, Co. Kildare, Michael has been a financial adviser since 1997, beginning his career shortly after leaving the
University of Wales Bangor. In 2000 Michael joined St. James's Place Wealth Management and focuses on entrepreneurs and the Irish community in Britain. He concentrates on sensible investment strategies whilst reducing clients' liability to inheritance tax. Michael enjoys a variety of sports particularly rugby, swimming and mountain climbing.
Dermott Rowan MANAGING DIRECTOR & CO-OWNER, KIELY ROWAN PLC Dublin-born Dermott Rowan is managing director and co-owner of Kiely Rowan Plc, whose brands include Orla Kiely and Olive & Orange. Rowan, graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He worked as a financial controller before 1997. With his wife Orla Kiely, he set up the company which would become Kiely Rowan Plc. in 2004. Acknowledged as an expert in the
field of fashion exporting, Dermott has taken the Orla Kiely brand to over 30 countries and conquered Japan and America. Dermott and Orla live in London with their two sons Robert and Hamish.
John Scanlon REVENUE MANAGER, THE DORCHESTER HOTEL
Educated in two world famous universities — Trinity College Dublin and Christchurch College, Oxford – Michael is involved in competition practice including merger control cases, as well as cartel investigations. As head of Slaughter & May’s Competition Litigation practice he has advised global companies
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such as Unilever, Ingram Micro, BHP Billiton and Thermo Fisher in EU Merger Regulation reviews. Michael is ranked as a leader in Competition/European law by Chambers 2014. A fan of languages he speaks French and continues to improve his Spanish.
John Scanlon was appointed as manager of the five star luxury hotel the Dorchester in London in March 2012. After graduating from the Shannon College of Hotel Management, John built up vast experience in the hotel trade. His career has seen him progress right through the chain of command over 15
years, working as night manager, reservations manager, front of house manager, until finally deputy to the managing director at The Lanesborough. Previous experience includes positions at Sheraton Skyline, Heathrow Airport and Trusthouse Forte Hotels across England.
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THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
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Sean Sexton FOUNDING PARTNER MSB
Liz Shanahan MANAGING DIRECTOR FTI
SOLICITORS
CONSULTING
Born in Liverpool, Sean graduated from Durham University and qualified as a solicitor in 1984. He was the founding partner of MSB and has extensive experience in the field of criminal defence, specialising in the area of criminal fraud prosecutions. Sean is a member of the Fraud Panel, possessing an
exceptional degree of experience in this complex area of law. Sean’s roots are in Inagh, Co. Clare and his mother’s family came from Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny. Sean now spends his holidays in Ireland and as a keen golfer tries to coincide his time there with the Waterford Golf Club Open. He is a fervent Everton fan. Everton, he says were “the Irish club in this city when my father arrived here in 1947”.
Santé Communications, one of the first specialist health PR consultancies. She studied computer science and maths at University College Cork, and is a board member of the Irish International Business Network. She is also a member of the Global Irish Network, representing Irish business leaders from around the world, who advise the Irish Government.
Paddy Shanahan CO-FOUNDER AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, GROUND CONSTRUCTION LTD
Peter Slattery HEAD OF CORPORATE BUSINESS,
Tipperary man Paddy Shanahan, co-founder of Ground Construction Ltd, was educated at St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny. The company was incorporated in 1997 operating solely as a groundworks company. In 2002 the business expanded to undertake in situ concrete frames and shortly after the trading name was changed to GCL. Under Paddy and co-founder Trevor Deviney’s leadership, the
Waterford man Peter Slattery’s career with AIB started in 1970 in Dublin. He subsequently moved to London in 1981 to become a lending manager for Allied Irish Bank (GB). In 1991 Peter was appointed branch manager at Hammersmith before moving to Berkley Square to take charge of Mayfair in 2002. In 2012 he was promoted to regional manager, London & South
business has grown into one of the most successful groundworks companies in Britain. The culture of collaboration, passion for quality and drive to complete each project is shared by all members of the GCL team, from the board through all our managers to each construction team on every project.
ALLIED IRISH BANK PLC (UK) East. Peter resides in St. Margarets, Twickenham with his GP wife and three daughters. He enjoys watching rugby and horse racing and playing golf.
Des Shields CHIEF EXECUTIVE ASPEN
Barbara Stanley
HEALTHCARE
FOUNDER, BARBARA STANLEY GALLERY
Des Shiels is the Chief Executive of Aspen Healthcare, a private healthcare company with eight healthcare facilities throughout Britain, committed to excellence and quality in the provision of acute healthcare services. Des joined Aspen in 2001 as the Chief Finance Officer, and was promoted to Chief Executive
in 2006. Prior to joining Aspen, Des was Director of Finance for the UK division of HCA from 19932001. A native of Donegal, he previously worked for EY in Dublin and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Des attended the National University of Ireland, Galway and is avid Donegal GAA and Ireland rugby supporter. His heroes are Jimmy McGuinness and Brian O’Driscoll.
Barbara Stanley began her management training at Claridge’s Hotel Mayfair from where she moved to further management positions in Geneva and Frankfurt. She returned to London in the 1980s, continuing to work in the hospitality sector. In 2002 Barbara left to establish the Barbara Stanley Gallery, the first
gallery in London to specialise in the works of Irish contemporary artists. The Barbara Stanley gallery now has over 12 years’ experience in providing an art consultancy service to private and corporate collectors. The specialist service helps clients select or procure the most appropriate artwork for private homes, business premises and corporate settings.
Philip Treacy
Michael Walsh MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF
MILLINER & FOUNDER, PHILIP TREACY LTD
FOREIGN EXCHANGE SALES, ALPHA CLIENTS AT LLOYDS BANKING GROUP
Born in Galway, Philip Treacy moved to Dublin in 1985 to study fashion at the National College of Art & Design. He later moved to London, winning a place at the Royal College of Art, becoming the first millinery student in its 165year history. His career since has been prolific. The late Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, Valentino, and Armani have employed his services.
Philip’s clients include Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga and 36 guests to the wedding of Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge. In 2010 Treacy was one of six contemporary, internationally renowned Irish fashion designers featured on a set of Irish postage stamps issued by An Post.
Willie Walsh CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, IAG Willie Walsh is Chief Executive Officer of International Airlines Group (IAG), the holding company of British Airways and Iberia and one of the world’s largest airline groups, carrying more than 55million passengers yearly. Previously at British Airways, Willie guided the company to its first ever 10 per
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With nearly two decades of experience in healthcare and life science communications, Liz Shanahan has exceptional knowledge of the needs of healthcare organisations of all sizes. Liz has led initiatives for organisations such as the NHS and the World Health Organisation. Prior to joining FTI, Liz established
cent operating margin in 2007. Born in Dublin, he joined Aer Lingus in 1979 as a cadet pilot working his way up to being a Boeing 737 captain. He completed an MSC in management and business administration at Trinity College Dublin in 1992. In March, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine named Walsh as its 2014 Laureate for Commercial Aviation.
Michael Walsh joined Lloyds in November 2011. Based in London, he is a former student of University College Cork where he studied civil law. Until 2004 Michael was European head of FX Sales at BNP Paribas, While Head of Global Financial Institution FX Sales at the Royal Bank of Scotland. He managed the integration of RBS and ABNAmro
teams during their merger and achieved new record revenues. Michael is a member of the Global Irish Economic Forum, the Global Irish Network and the Ireland Fund for Great Britain.
Stanley Watson PARTNER MATHESON Born in Dublin, Stanley was educated in Rathgar and went on to study at University College Dublin and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. Currently head of Matheson’s London Office, Stanley is a long-standing and respected figure in the corporate market. He advises on mergers and
acquisitions, venture capital, management buyouts and in transactions for private and public limited companies. He has been retained by many British institutions and corporates investing in Ireland. His client list includes AIB, Electra Partners, Legal & General Ventures and Alchemy Partners. No wonder the expression “There are not enough hours in the day” is one he uses often.
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The City of London as seen from the River Thames
Soaring out of the triple-dip Following years of belt-tightening the IMF has forecast exponential growth ahead for Ireland. Pádraig Belton reports on the links with London’s Square Mile
I
T HAS taken years of stiff medicine, but Ireland is back. On October 8, the IMF more than doubled its growth estimate for Ireland’s economy, to 3.6 per cent this year. Against a backdrop of European and global slowdown — the triple-dipping Euro area is predicted to grow at a sclerotic 0.8 per cent, broaching fears of deflation, and even the stronger economies of America and Britain predicted only at 2.2 and 2.7 per cent — Ireland’s emerald is a rare sparkle in a bleak global economy beset by geopolitical tensions, and a Eurozone which has ground to a halt amidst weak exports and investment. It is unsurprising then that Ireland has drawn the eye of the City of London. The London office of investment group Sankaty has just paired with colourful financier — and Celtic Football Club majority owner — Dermot Desmond to inaugurate a direct lending fund this month called Broadhaven, with an initial seed capital of €200m, designed to lend to Irish mid-sized businesses which have experienced difficulty raising money in the post-crisis domestic banking sector, and to support new house construction in Ireland. There has been a steady drumbeat of deals linking Ireland and London’s finance
Ireland’s first new syndicated deal for three years, with investors outside Ireland taking 82 per cent of the deal and 25 per cent coming from British accounts, was heralded as ‘a triumphant return to the capital markets’
world, each being lauded as the return to a time of steady growth. In 2013, and in the week of St Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s first new syndicated deal for three years, with investors outside Ireland taking 82 per cent of the deal and 25 per cent coming from British accounts, was heralded as ‘a triumphant return to the capital markets’ and ‘deal of the quarter’ by one financial newspaper. Daniel O’Connell, managing partner for Kerman & Co LLP, a London commercial law firm specialising in mergers and acquisitions and Alternative Investment Market (or AIM) listings, says his firm has seen increased activity by clients. “Certainly from our perspective, and that may be a small perspective, but the last quarter, the last six months have seen a real pick-up from a year, certainly two years ago.” Mr O’Connell points to the May purchase of Dublin-based CityJet by German-based Intro Aviation, and his own group’s AIM listing of the domain name company Minds + Machines, as examples of “the sort of things that weren’t happening — with assets being put into trust, actions being parked for a while — are happening”. He singled out big and small tech firms, 37
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
and the hotel sector, as areas where he had personally observed increased activity. “Certainly tax revenue is up six or seven per cent, growth rates estimates are up, so everything seems to be pointing in same direction — we see it in the Dublin office, and much of it in the activity we’re seeing here in London.” Ballybofey native Damien Gillespie is executive director of Clearstream Banking, part of the Deutsche Börse Group. Clearstream recently acquired Cork-based Citco Global Securities Service, with 300 employees, citing as reasons help offered by the Irish Development Authority (IDA), and the expertise and legal framework in the Irish hedge fund space. The international banking business has remained relatively stable in Ireland, says Mr Gillespie. “And there has been growth with various large international players adding new headcount and opening new offices. Ireland continues to be an attractive base for corporate treasurers as companies look to benefit from the attractive tax rate, quality of personnel, IT expertise and ease of start-up.” In the funds sector, he says: “The Irish funds industry continues to attract new business and the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) in particular has seen strong growth across a wide range of sectors. Whilst trading conditions have been difficult for the Irish banks since 2008, we do see them recovering well with liquidity and trading volumes returning.” Seán Watson, vice president of commercial mortgage servicing company Hatfield Philips, says “one of the biggest trends this year has been the sales of very large portfolios of Irish NPL (non-performing loan) portfolios by the likes of NAMA, IBRC and Lloyds.” He says there has been roughly €5billion such portfolios sold this year, and that this has helped the Irish economy recovery by
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Ireland has renewed appeal for the City of London permitting banks to rid themselves of the toxic debt which caused the financial crisis. “The underwriting of the acquisitions are carried out in the City and this has led to investment in Ireland, as they have to engage a lot of local companies in Ireland to help with the process and then Irish-based companies are awarded contracts to look after the portfolios once purchased,” adds Mr Watson. Together, as well as greater financial engagement linking the Square Mile with Ireland, through corporate mergers, new listings, and hedge-fund investment, there sits also the pomp of the City of London Corporation. The state visit of an Uachtarán — the return visit from the Queen’s Irish trip President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina are received by Lord Mayor, Alderman Fiona Woolf, centre, during the state visit
of 2011, and as a pair meant to reflect the highest possible relationship between two nations — included a State Banquet in Guildhall, hosted by Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf, alongside the other set piece dinner in Buckingham Palace. Alderman Woolf applauded Ireland on becoming the first Eurozone country to exit the IMF/EU bailout, and stated “the UK and the City of London is your firmest friend”. Dinners to the side, there is charitable engagement in the North of Ireland where the City has a long past of involvement. (It was the livery companies who, leaned upon by King James I, funded the reconstruction of Derry, contributing the ‘London’ moniker used by some in the city’s name.) Edward Montgomery is secretary of The Honourable The Irish Society, the City of London’s cross-community charitable arm for the North of Ireland, which is principally active in Derry and Coleraine, and last year marked its 400th birthday. “We’ve slimmed down, we’ve cut costs, we’ve modernised, we’ve done all the good things charities are meant to do,” says Mr Montgomery. In the October visitation to the North of Ireland by members of the Society’s trustees, accompanied by the Corporation’s Town Clerk and Chief Executive, John Barradell, the charity dispensed 47 grants, ranging from senior citizen groups to sports clubs, youth groups, GAA bodies, and special needs schools. Amongst the Society’s efforts in the area of cross-communal reconciliation is a Saturday School linking Lisneal College, a controlled high school in Waterside, with St Mary’s College, an all-girls Catholicmaintained secondary school in Rosemount. “It’s a good example of what we’re trying to do,” says Mr Montgomery. “Small funds, modest grants, but
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THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
British Home Secretary Theresa May and Minister Frances Fitzgerald sign the landmark British-Irish Visa Scheme
Picture by Malcolm McNally
getting those schools working together in Saturday activity — study, recreational things like riding, swimming, forming friendships and collaboration between schools — always a surprise how difficult it is to achieve that.” And Dublin’s eye, in return, is increasingly on London, and taking quiet soundings amongst Irish persons working in the City. Shane Kelly of renewable energy company Vattenfall and Mark Byrne of RBS are board members in the London Irish Business Society. At their launch in 2009, at which thenopposition leader Enda Kenny spoke, they had roughly 200 members; now, they boast 10 times as many, half of them under the age of 30. “There always was a good contingent that came over to London anyway, regardless of what was going on at home, because that type of job wasn’t available in Dublin-M&A, trading, and such,” says Mr Byrne. “Obviously, as emigration’s picked up, we’ve timed the group quite well, by mistake as much as anything.” Their events attracted the official ear. John Moran, until recently secretary general in Ireland’s Department of Finance (and ‘Mr Austerity’, to the press), visited one of the organisation’s events and coaxed those there to “put your money where your mouth is and contribute”. The contribution took the form of a fivepage letter to the Taoiseach suggesting quick wins and areas of opportunity for Ireland in green finance, fund management, and other areas. Neil Ryan, the department’s assistant
validation of their line of thinking,” says Mr Kelly. October has seen the launch of one ‘quick win’ suggested by the London Irish Business Society: a British-Irish Visa Scheme between the two nations, long clamoured for by corporate Ireland, to allow visitors from China and India to travel to both countries on a single visa. (With Indian growth estimated at 5.4 per cent and China’s at 7.4, the attractions of the East are evident.) Other proposals have included technical solutions or risk-sharing moves to ensure a ready pool of capital to attract inward investment in the renewable sector. Simon Harris, a minister of state in the Department of Finance appointed this summer, is tipped to visit the London Irish Business Society before the end of the year, in what the society terms “a real two-way relationship”. There are other Irish orbits spinning within the Square Mile’s finance world as well, such as Morgan Stanley’s Net Éire, founded in 2003 as a forum for its Irish employees, hosting monthly roundtable discussions and annual flagship events on economic themes touching Ireland, and now with close to 300 members within the financial services corporation. Not a bad grounding, then, for a close trading relationship between two of the only strong economies in Europe at the moment, or prognosis for an Ireland whose stay in the infirmary as a sick man in Europe seems to have been mercilessly short. It may not be a tiger yet, but it is a kitten worth watching.
secretary general, replied, suggesting several more topics in which the London Irish Business Society might attempt to act as a sounding board for the department. “Just really a way for them to keep their ears to the ground, and have some concise
October has seen the launch of one ‘quick win’ suggested by the London Irish Business Society: a British-Irish Visa Scheme
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, on right, with Patrick Harte from the London Irish Lawyers Association and Jennie McShannon from Irish in Britain Picture by Malcolm McNally
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Secret to success in a woman’s world As growing numbers of Ireland’s educated and talented choose to work abroad, the make-up of British boardrooms is changing. Mairéad Wilmot reports
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EW YORK, Hong Kong, Paris, London — as more and more young Irish graduates turn their ambitions towards capital corporate headquarters, making it in the business world is no easy task. With an estimated 329,000 Irish people living in Britain in 2013, according to a report released in August by the Office of National Statistics, a healthy portion of Ireland’s educated, young talent is now residing here. And these determined go-getters are taking the opportunities available to them in the corporate world. But while this sector has traditionally been seen as a male-dominated arena, Irish women are more than holding their own. One of those is Susan O’Flynn, Managing Director, CCP Strategy and Management, at the globally renowned financial services firm Morgan Stanley. Born in Skibbereen, West Cork, Ms O’Flynn moved to Dublin in 1987 and was educated in The Teresian School, Stillorgan before heading to UCD. Explaining her educational background, Ms O’Flynn said: “I did one year of International Commerce and French before transferring to read Law. When I graduated in 1999 I moved to London to pursue a Masters in Intellectual Property Law, which helped to delay any serious career decisions for another year! Initially, I practiced as an emerging markets lawyer in the city for several years before making the transition into banking in 2005 when I was hired by Goldman Sachs to expand its European repo-financing desk.” After joining Morgan Stanley in 2008, Ms O’Flynn spent five and a half years expanding their structured secured financing desk with two of those spent running the firm’s secured financing desk globally. Three months ago, she took up her new role as MD of CCP Strategy and Management. Now, along with her team, she is, in her own words: “responsible for managing both the global risk and resource exposure Morgan Stanley has to central clearing counterparties (CCPS) across all cleared products ranging from listed and OTC derivatives to securities financing transactions.” No mean feat for a girl from Skibbereen. For Ms O’Flynn, the challenges which come with a career in corporate financing are just those — challenges — and the obvious question about whether or not gender plays a part in your success as a businessperson is null and void. The concept of a glass ceiling, she says, is becoming an outdated one. “While there are still challenges to overcome, I think the idea of the glass ceiling is becoming an outdated concept. I feel that investment banking, as an industry, is doing lots to smash
this concept. With the right sponsorship, many women are succeeding in getting to some of the most senior positions within firms — our CFO, Ruth Porat, for example. I think it is important to focus on creating the right environment and sponsorship at mid-level positions to ensure the pipeline to senior management remains strong.” Another Irish woman, Dubliner Cliodhnagh Conlon, Business Development Director, UK with technology company ammado, a global donations platform, agrees in theory with Ms O’Flynn. “I don’t feel that my career opportunities to date have suffered because I am female, having said that I work for a relatively small and young company with quite a flat management structure.” But, she points out: “If you look at the proportion of senior female executives and board members or the gender pay gap, the data speaks for itself. I think everyone is keen to welcome the day of equality in the work
The number of Irish directors of companies in Britain, men and women, is impressive. There are many formidable Irish female business leaders and entrepreneurs
Cliodhnagh Conlon, Business Development Director, UK with ammado
environment, but I don’t think we are quite there yet.” Educated in Trinity College Dublin where she completed a degree in Business and Economics, Ms Conlon then moved to California to do a postgraduate degree in design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. In 2007, she made her move to London where she spent a year and half interning in various companies in the fashion industry including Burberry and Alexander McQueen. Ms Conlon explained her role as British Business Development Director with ammado. “We power a lot of international non-profit campaigns and provide companies with mechanisms to tangibly embed their values throughout their organisation. I’ve worked in business development for the past five years, and with ammado being a young SME the role is quite varied. I’m involved with growing the business internationally, which combines a bit of sales, marketing, partnerships, project management and account management.” Along with her role at ammado, Ms Conlon also sits on the board of the London Irish Business Society where she is responsible for marketing and communications. Through her position there, she is regularly brought into contact with some of Ireland’s leading business leaders. When asked what impact she feels Irish women in particular, are making on the corporate world, Ms Conlon revealed: “I think Irish people in general have made quite a big impact on the corporate world. The number of Irish directors of companies here in Britain, men and women, is impressive. There are many current examples of formidable Irish female business leaders and entrepreneurs — Louise Phelan in PayPal, Susan Dargan in StateStreet, Siobhán Talbot in Glanbia, Anne Heraty of CPL, Gráinne Barron of Viddyad.” On the topic of Irish women making an impact, Morgan Stanley’s Susan O’Flynn points out: “Within investment banking, there is an ever-growing Irish network, which from my perspective includes as many women as it does men — this is certainly the case within Morgan Stanley. The impact is strong and getting stronger. Net-Éire, the Morgan Stanley Irish Network, is the largest network of its type within investment banking — it provides a fantastic forum for Irish employees at Morgan Stanley to help promote awareness of Irish enterprise and culture.” Cecilia Gallagher is chair of WIN, the Women’s Irish Network who are based here in Britain. WIN’s members encompass business leaders from all sectors including media, law, banking, medicine, arts, construction, accountancy, engineering and more. 41
Reach the right people with Ms Gallagher explains that the organisation’s ethos is based around helping members to connect and develop relationships. The organisation was founded by Mary Clancy and the late Nessa O’Neill. “Mary and Nessa went to a DEMOS Day talk on women in the workplace, their problems and how they could be overcome,” says Ms Gallagher. “Duly inspired they decided that they would like to do something for women in the Irish community. Both women had many years experience in the business world and had been founder members of the Irish Youth Foundation in Britain. They brought all those experiences together and developed WIN into the organisation that it is today.” In tandem with helping women making connections in the business world, WIN has also helped raise over £400,000 for projects, which goes towards charities aiding women and children. Ms Gallagher has been involved with WIN from its inception and five years ago, she joined the WIN executive, which is made up of 12 businesswomen. “My background has been in event management and fundraising over a number of years. My working life in London started in fashion and that is where I learnt about presentation, style and good organisation. Over the years, I have worked for Save the Children, The Tricycle Theatre, Enterprise Ireland and others. In later years, my job was the full time fundraiser and event manager for the Irish Youth Foundation UK.” As part of her work with WIN, Ms Gallagher acknowledges that in a competitive business world, “it is vital women support each other”. She explains that as an organisation, WIN support and guide Irish businesswomen based in Britain through a range of initiatives including business breakfasts at Corrigan’s of Mayfair, sponsored by AIB, to an evening at the House of Lords sponsored by Alexander Mann Solutions. “Our primary aim is to introduce members and their guests to new people. We endeavour to put people in touch with someone of interest to them so that they can connect,” adds Ms Gallagher. “At our events, we have been able to get women of great experience from different walks of life to talk about their career paths. This is a great inspiration 42
to all… We have a database of members and are in the process of creating a new members area on our website, so that people can locate each other.” Through her work with WIN, Ms Gallagher says she has come across a range of challenges faced by women in the corporate world, amongst them is a lack of belief in your own abilities — “yes, you can do it!” she encourages. Childcare facilities can also be an issue, she concedes. “Maternity and returning to work (after a prolonged period out) are two key challenges for women in business that need to be addressed,” agrees Ms O’Flynn. “Clear policies and sponsorship need to be encouraged so that firms create the right incentives and support systems when women return to work. Morgan Stanley has implemented an extensive maternity coaching programme for women, as well as a mandatory training course for managers around maternity management best practices. We also have several networks that provide additional support and connectivity to other parents such as our Family Network and Women’s Business Alliance. Our inaugural London ‘Return to Work’ initiative has also just launched a 12week internship for 19 talented women who have been out of the workforce for between two to 10 years.” From her point of view, Ms Conlon adds: “I think that ultimately for companies, it’s important to have a support structure and development programmes that recognise the value that both male and female characteristics can add to the business environment. Having male and female mentors for both sexes would also go some way to deepening the understanding of different perspectives and ways of working. Diverse business environments are healthier and better for business.” But do these women believe the same opportunities exist for them in Ireland and Britain? Ms Conlon says yes. “The technology industry in Ireland is really thriving at the moment, which presents good opportunities for people in my role and there’s definitely a feeling of an improving economy more generally. Most of the largest internet companies have their European HQs in Ireland and there’s a vibrant homegrown start-up scene. There’s also some great incubator programmes and support initiatives for start-ups. Enterprise Ireland launched a Female Entrepreneurship Unit earlier this year to support female entrepreneurs and female-led startups.” While acknowledging there are great opportunities in Ireland, Ms O’Flynn says: “Because my career is in investment banking, roles like mine would be challenging to Cecilia Gallagher, chair of the Women’s Irish Network
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Susan O’Flynn, Managing Director, CCP Strategy and Management, Morgan Stanley recreate due to the global breadth of my mandate, working across the US, EMEA and Asia. This isn’t to say there aren’t exciting global opportunities for people within Ireland — many multinational corporate companies have based themselves there.” Given that such a high proportion of Irish women see Britain as a base to succeed, what tips do these successful businesswomen have for those hoping to make it in London’s corporate world? “Be prepared to work hard, and be inspired by the diverse workforce that London houses,” advises Ms O’Flynn. “In my career, I have never stopped learning or developing due to my interaction with colleagues with very different skill sets and backgrounds, and also working in a job and an industry which is constantly evolving.” Ms Gallagher says: “Look for women who already work in the field in which you wish to work, to act as guides or mentors. Be flexible, one path may not be the direct way in to what you want to do, but all experiences help, so be open to opportunities.” And Ms Conlon adds: “Irish people moving to Britain are fortunate to have such a strong Irish community here, with a very supportive Embassy and numerous business groups. Contacts are a vital part of business success, I’d recommend taking advantage of the established Irish networks here like the London Irish Business Society, the Irish International Business Network and the Women’s Irish Network. Depending on your profession there are also more niche networks in legal, construction etc. Continuing to develop and educate yourself can be a big differentiator in your career, as well as being personally fulfilling. Here in London we’re lucky to have a wealth of world-class education and arts institutions with flexible ways of taking courses. This can be a good way of furthering your knowledge in your own, or a completely different field and meeting new people in a new city simultaneously.”
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Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall with Co-Chair of the IIBN Ross Finegan at an FLP event
Take us to your leaders The Future Leaders Programme offers unique opportunities to tomorrow’s rising stars of the business world. Fiona Audley met some of its mentors and mentees
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HE CURRENT wave of emigration from Ireland, particularly to Britain, is characterised by people who are, by-and-large, young, well-educated, highly motivated and seeking high-quality employment or entrepreneurial opportunities. A number of these will undoubtedly rise to the top of their chosen professions or sectors and will be key influencers, not just in Britain or Ireland but also globally. They may also find themselves joining the many Irish business networks currently in operation across the country, the longest standing of which is the Irish International Business Network (IIBN). So in tune with the needs of these new arrivals is the IIBN, that 2014 saw them launch a new initiative, the Future Leaders Programme, to offer unique opportunities for young professionals to engage in mentoring with more established business people — those who have been where they are now and have gone on to carve successful businesses and careers for themselves as Irish people in Britain. “One of IIBN’s long standing objectives has been to support the next generation of ‘rising stars’ and to work with Irish talent to propel them to the next level in their chosen career path, whether as an 44
The most important thing a mentor can do is to help the mentee to lift themselves above the layers of administrative clouds and re-engage with their passion and vision
entrepreneur or within an executive or professional setting,” a spokesperson for the network told The Irish Post. “This is our first year of a formal mentoring/ advocacy programme which came about due to a significant amount of informal mentoring and advocacy work within and across the IIBN network between established entrepreneurs and business professionals and a number of our younger and ‘hungry’ members who searched out support for a variety of issues — connectivity, professional supports, finance, HR, access to markets, new career opportunities.” We asked some of the mentors and mentees currently signed up to the IIBN’s Future Leaders Programme to tell us about their experience of the initiative.
Mentors:
Jonathan Grey, mentor and CEO of Ovation Incentives
GERRY COLLINS, 51, hails from Tullamore in Co. Offaly, but now lives in Chelmsford, Essex. Having spent the last 24 years in Britain, Gerry is now an Equity Partner at the London chartered accountancy practice Ecovis Wingrave Yeats.
at www.irishpost.co.uk He is also Co-Chairman of the London IIBN chapter. Why did you sign up as a FLP mentor? To give something back. What do you hope to bring to your mentee? Some insights from 30 years in the profession. How important is the mentoring process in business? It’s vital to steer young people and help them avoid mistakes. Did you have a mentor? Yes, informally. How much of an impact did that have on your career path? A significant amount. Some of the knowledge imparted I still use on a regular basis. What inspired you to succeed in business? A determination to better myself and be the very best I could be at my chosen career. What is your best tip for people starting out in business? Ask for lots of advice and spend money very carefully in your business. JONATHAN GREY, 41, is from Co. Cork, but lives in Clapham and has been working in Britain for 17 years. He is the founder and CEO of the HR technology firm Ovation Incentives, a cloud-based software company specialising in the newly-emerging enterprise technology sector of social business recognitions systems. Jonathan is also a founding director, current board member and former Chairman of the IIBN London chapter. Why did you sign up as a FLP mentor? I would not have had the relative success that I have had in business were it not for the influence and guidance of some wonderful people that I have meet along the way. I was only too happy to get involved in the FLP to hopefully pass on some of this guidance, where possible, to the next generation. What do you hope to bring to your mentee? The most important thing a mentor can do is to help the mentee to lift themselves above the layers of administrative clouds that come with running a business and to help them re-engage with their passion and vision for why they are in business in the first place. How important is the mentoring process in business? In business you have to constantly challenge your assumptions and strategies. No matter what market you are in it will always adapt, or even be disrupted by the ‘next big thing’. Having a mentor is one of the ways in which you can take advantage of the experiences of those who have seen change. What inspired you to succeed in business? Knowing that the business that you are building is having a positive impact on the lives of your colleagues, customers and suppliers is pretty inspirational. What is your best tip for people starting out in business? Life as an entrepreneur is a marathon not a sprint, prepare yourself for that reality. Perseverance is 90 per cent of success!
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
ROSS FINEGAN, 44, hails from Dublin but relocated to Britain 20 years ago because he found there was a lack of opportunity in Ireland. He is now a founder partner of the Lonsdale Capital Partners private equity firm in London. Prior to Lonsdale Capital, he was a director of JPMorgan Partners, the private equity arm of JPMorgan, where he completed many deals over a wide variety of sectors. He is also Co-Chairman of the London IIBN chapter. Why did you sign up as a FLP mentor? To give something back, I have had many informal mentors over my time. What do you hope to bring to your mentee? Perspective, clarity and the ability to stand-back and focus on a few things. How important is the mentoring process in business? Hugely, we have all made mistakes and will continue to do so, but mentoring will help the next generation avoid our pitfalls. Did you have a mentor? Yes, but informally. How much of an impact did that have on your career path? They guided me personally and professionally. What inspired you to succeed in business? Ambition to be the best. What is your best tip for people starting out in business? Be clear about what you want to do and then do it. Andy Rogers
ANDY ROGERS hails from Ballymote in Co. Sligo, but is currently based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Having worked for Bank of Ireland for 38 years, Andy spent the final 19 years working for the firm in Britain. Following his retirement from the bank in 2001, the businessman divides his life between being a consultant/director of medium sized companies, a mentor of senior executives and plays an active role in the voluntary world. He is a long term board member of the IIBN and is a former Co-Chair. Why did you sign up as a FLP mentor? Because it is a great concept and I believe in it and the medium term benefits that it will bring to those involved.
What do you hope to bring to your mentee? To be a good listener and then to share my experiences in a way that will hopefully benefit the individual and the business. How important is the mentoring process in business? Growing a business can be a very lonely experience for some people, so having somebody externally (or even internally) whom the mentee can trust and share ideas with is a great benefit and can help in avoiding pitfalls. Did you have a mentor? Yes, I always sought the sage advice of good people both outside and within business, but it was not done as formally as the FLP programme will do. How much of an impact did that have on your career path? I enjoyed being challenged by others and as a result avoiding many pitfalls. What inspired you to succeed in business? My father and mother. I came from a family of shopkeepers and farmers who believed in hard work and getting the best education possible. What is your best tip for people starting out in business? Be yourself; don’t be afraid to talk to somebody about your plans, problems or dilemmas; join a good network or series of networks and as you move up the ladder treat everybody as you would wish to be treated yourself. MARY MCKENNA hails from Dungannon in Co. Tyrone but is now based in London’s Southbank. The entrepreneur has just exited from the Learning Pool online learning firm, of which she was co-founder. Learning Pool was her third and most successful start up to date, although she is about to launch a new business which will offer services to the British public sector. Why did you sign up as a FLP mentor? I already did a fair bit of informal mentoring with younger entrepreneurs and when IIBN mentioned FLP I was one of the first to put my hand up. It’s a fabulous way to feel as if you’re putting something back. What do you hope to bring to your mentee? I hope to help him extend his network outside of Ireland and we’ve already made some progress there. I’ll also be an independent and confidential sounding board for some of his product ideas and go to market strategies. It’s early days yet but its going well so far. How important is the mentoring process in business? It’s crucial. People have been doing it forever but it was probably called something else previously. Did you have a mentor? Of course. I would never have become an entrepreneur without my mentor’s encouragement. He opened my eyes to possibilities and gave me the confidence to start my first business. What inspired you to succeed in business? I was fed up working for other people in their lacklustre and mediocre companies. I was driven by a desire to create a fabulous place to work with a world 45
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Part of your business week
class team and that’s certainly how Learning Pool turned out. What is your best tip for people starting out in business? Just get started. Every day you delay is a day lost. They say that being an entrepreneur is like jumping off a cliff and building a glider on the way down. You’ll figure it out as you go along!
Mentees: OLWEN SHEEDY, 23, hails from Dublin. She moved to Britain in 2012 for a two year graduate placement as a market executive with Enterprise Ireland. She started a new job with PWC this October. Why have you joined the FLP mentoring scheme? I think it’s a fantastic opportunity. I was fortunate to be paired with two different mentors during my time at Dublin City University through the alumni network. These mentors proved a tremendous support and I have kept in contact with them both. I see real value in mentorship. What do you hope to gain from it? I would like guidance and help in identifying the key skills and expertise I will need in the future to achieve my goals. What is the calibre of mentors on the programme like? There’s a very high standard and they are extremely generous with their time. IIBN ran an event at the start of June for all the mentors and mentees which allowed everyone to meet each other. Having access to all of the mentors along with your own personal mentor is remarkable.
I was fortunate to be paired with two different mentors during my time at Dublin City University. I see real value in mentorship
Damien Kennedy of Whey Hey at the FLP Launch What is the best thing about being a part of the FLP scheme? It provides access to a fantastic network of people. The mentors and mentees all come from different backgrounds. Everyone I have met so far has been very willing to help and happy to open their network to others if required. Who are your business heroes? That’s a hard question to answer in a short space but I am a big fan of Sheryl Sandberg (COO, Facebook); I also think Arianna Huffington is inspirational and I love what she is teaching through Thrive — the third metric of success. I am fascinated by good business in general though. I love to experience or hear about a really amazing company and learn about the people behind the business. I also love great brands. Where do you want to be in business in five years? I hope that in five years I will be a fully qualified chartered accountant and will have experienced a variety of different businesses during my time at PWC. DAMIEN KENNEDY, 29, hails from Cork city but is now based in London after heading for Britain to complete his studies in 2004. He is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Wheyhey! — a firm which manufactures the world’s first 100 per cent natural ice-cream.
Olwen Sheedy, PWC 46
Why have you joined the FLP mentoring scheme? To listen and to learn. To have access to an incredible network of experience and expertise and to receive guidance from those that have already been through the journey we are on is priceless. What do you hope to gain from it? My sanity! To gain insights into the business experience of others, both good and bad.
What is the calibre of mentors on the programme like? The CVs of the mentors involved in the programme is like reading a who’s who of business. What is the best thing about being a part of the FLP scheme? Knowing there is a great resource there for you to tap in to, whenever it’s needed. It’s like receiving an MBA tuition. Who are your business heroes? Outside of the usual ones like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Felix Dennis, my dad! Where do you want to be in business in five years? I would like to be at the forefront of a health revolution; where big food companies and government are forced to act in the best interest of consumers rather than the ‘bottom line’; where truly healthy food is convenient, affordable and indulgent. Wheyhey! MARK BYRNE, 34, left Dublin for Britain in 2012 after securing a job with Londonbased advisory firm FTI Consulting. Now he is the Co-founder and COO at Schoolora, an educational technology platform for teachers, pupils and parents. Why have you joined the FLP mentoring scheme? I felt it was an absolute no brainer — the voice of reason and unbiased advice from a proven business brain is very appealing. What do you hope to gain from it? I guess I’m looking for some unbiased qualification of directions we as a business are considering. The positive and negative. How has the scheme benefitted you to date? Firstly I have enjoyed getting to know my mentor and so far he has been very helpful in steering us on our early stage development. It’s been very worthwhile. What is the calibre of mentors on the programme like? First class — the London
In stores every Wednesday network has many many superb Irish expat business leaders amongst its membership and this is very evident in the obvious corporate quality of the FLP mentors. What is the best thing about being a part of the FLP scheme? It’s a refined network within a network and it has already begun to create interesting potential opportunities that may prove revenue generating. Which is actually not something I had expected. Who are your business heroes? Michael O’Leary is one. I’m a big fan of not using 10 words to make a point when five will do. MOL is the king of getting to the point. I’ve been lucky enough to work with great entrepreneurs in the past too, so I guess someone like Ray Coyle of Largo Foods jumps out. He’s a brilliant deal maker and someone that is always looking for the next opportunity. Where do you want to be in business in five years? I would like Schoolora to grow in a robust way. I would like our product suite, the first of which is Lesson Plans for British second level teacher, pupils and parents, to be achieving some kind of international traction outside Britain. JOHN BECKETT, 32, is a native of Sutton in Dublin, but moved to London last year to grow his business, build his experience and expand his network. He is the Co-founder of Eirtight Technology, an award-winning cloud technology and software development services provider. Why have you joined the FLP mentoring scheme? I believe strongly in the value of having experienced, inspiring
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
mentors in all walks of life, and felt that the FLP would not only connect me with such a person in my sector, but also facilitate networking with other like-minded people. What do you hope to gain from it? An external perspective from someone who’s been there, done that and lived to tell the tale and advice on handling new challenges and complexities in growing an international business. What is the calibre of mentors on the programme like? The calibre seems to be very high, with lots of experienced people who are freely giving of their time and paying it forward, which is a philosophy I admire hugely and try to emulate. What is the best thing about being a part of the FLP scheme? There is the obvious benefit of the advice, guidance and introductions etc. But there is a more subtle benefit as well: knowing that someone will be asking you how you applied what was discussed previously, what the results were, how I benefitted and performed versus what we expected, etc. — it’s almost like a guilt trip into performing better, but a good guilt trip, if that makes any sense at all? Who are your business heroes? Philip Berber — Irish-born, Texas-based. He built CyBerCorp and sold to Charles Schwab for almost $500m just before the dot com crash. He then became a philanthropist and set up A Glimmer of Hope foundation to bring water/education etc. to Ethiopia. If I could map out a career and then live it, I think it would be his! Where do you want to be in business in five years? I plan to continue the impressive growth we’ve had in Eirtight to date, with more focus on international clients where there is an opportunity for us to deliver a greater return on investment for our clients from the products and systems we build and support.
What is the calibre of mentors on the programme like? Extremely high, my mentor has over 30 years industry experience in the recruitment sector. He is an industry leader and I’m incredibly fortunate to have attained the services of such an experienced mentor. What is the best thing about being a part of the FLP scheme? The reassurance that when I run a new idea by my mentor he is able to give constructive and informative advice to whether it’s a viable new business angle as he has been there and done it. Also, having a sounding board for new ideas and angles I have for growing the business. Who are your business heroes? Simple, Sir Richard Branson and Steve Jobs. Where do you want to be in business in five years? I want to be running Britain and Ireland’s number one financial derivatives recruitment firm and to be running operations from our newly opened offices in Dublin! ■ The FLP initiative was officially launched by Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall in February. The programme receives funding from the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme. If you are interested in participating as a Mentor or Future Leader in Britain contact Sinead Crowley, IIBN Executive Director, at sinead@iibn.com
BUSINESS HEROES: Sir Richard Branson, left, and the late Steve Jobs
DAVID SORAGHAN, 33, left Dublin for London in 2005. He is the Managing Director at Avalon Recruitment, which is a leading provider of specialist and bespoke recruitment services to the financial services industry. Why have you joined the FLP mentoring scheme? I joined the FLP as I believe strongly in the value experienced mentors can provide to a young start-up company like Avalon. What do you hope to gain from it? I’m hoping to gain a better understanding of lessons my mentor learned as he built his recruitment business and how these can be implemented effectively in Avalon to help us grow and prosper. 47
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GET IN TOUCH: Irish groups Irish in Britain Head Office: 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA Tel: 020 7697 4081 Web: www.irishinbritain.org Midlands: Room 104 Keys Court, 82-84 Moseley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B12 0RT Tel: 0121 622 4169 Chief Executive: Jennie McShannon
Irish in Britain is a national umbrella organisation established in 1973, which draws together Irish clubs and societies. The Ireland Fund of Great Britain 2nd floor, Wigglesworth House, 69 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HH Tel: 0207 9409 850 Web: www.irelandfund.org Financial Controller: Sean Henderson
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The Ireland Fund of Great Britain (IFGB) is the foremost Irish charity in Britain providing financial support to organisations that care for elderly and vulnerable Irish people who still live here. Co-operation Ireland GB Windy Ridge, Courtlands Hill, Pangbourne RG8 7BE Tel: 01189 767 790 Web: www.cooperationireland.org Executive Director: Mike Murphy
Co-operation Ireland is the leading peacebuilding charity on the island of Ireland. icap Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy, 96 Moray Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3LA Tel: 0207 272 7906 Web: www.icap.org.uk Founder and Honorary President: Teresa Gallagher
icap’s aims to provide an accessible psychotherapy services and promote mental health and well-being. Irish Youth Foundation (UK) 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, London W6 7HA Tel: 020 8748 9640 Web: www.iyf.org.uk Chairman: John Dwyer Head of Operations: Linda Tanner
The purpose of the IYF (UK) is to raise funds and award grants to help improve the lives of children and young disadvantaged Irish people in Britain and the North of Ireland. Irish in Birmingham St Anne’s Parish Centre, Alcester Street, Deritend, Birmingham B12 0PH Tel: 0121 604 6111 Web: www.birminghamirish.org.uk Chief Executive: Maurice Malone
Irish in Birmingham, formerly known as Irish Welfare and Information Centre, is a charity dedicated to supporting the Irish community in Birmingham.
London Irish Rugby Football Club The Avenue, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 5EQ Tel: 01932 750 100 Web: www.london-irish.com Chief Executive: David Fitzgerald President: Mick Crossan Director of Rugby: Brian Smith
Established in 1898, London Irish became a professional rugby club in 1996. Sunbury-on-Thames has been the home of London Irish since 1931 and today the Avenue is also the base for the London Irish England Rugby Academy and the Amateur Club. Provincial Council of Britain GAA Páirc na hÉireann, Catherine-de-Barnes Lane, Solihull B92 0DB Tel: 0771 1004 008 Web: www.britain.gaa.ie President: Brendie Brien Secretary & Senior Games Development Manager: Gary Kelly
Ireland’s largest sporting organisation, the Gaelic Athletic Association/Cumann
Advertise today — call +44 (0) 20 8900 4137
and organisations in Britain Lúthchleas Gael is a 32 county sporting and cultural organisation that has a presence on all five continents, including Britain. The Irish Post 1 Lindsey Street, Smithfield, London EC1A9HP Tel: 020 8900 4137 Web: www.irishpost.co.uk Publisher: Mr Elgin Loane Editor: Siobhán Breatnach Regional Editor: Fiona Audley Sports Editor: Robert Mulhern
The Irish Post is the biggest selling newspaper for the Irish in Britain. A trusted brand for over 44 years it offers exclusive news and features and the latest in business, entertainment, travel and sport, both in print and online at www.irishpost.co.uk.
Enterprise Ireland is an Irish Government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. IDA Ireland Shaftesbury House, 151 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8AL Tel: 020 7379 9728 Web: www.idaireland.com International Financial Services Manager: Deborah Soye
Ireland’s inward investment promotion agency, IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency) is responsible for the attraction and development of foreign investment in Ireland. Bord Bia First Floor, 201 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5AB Tel: 020 7307 3555 Web: www.bordbia.ie Trade Marketing Specialist — UK Retail: Gillian Swaine
The role of Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, is to act as a link between Irish food, drink and horticulture s uppliers and existing and potential customers throughout the world.
GAA is at the heart of the Irish community in Britain Tourism Ireland London: 103 Wigmore St, London W1U 1QS Tel: 020 7518 0800 Web: www.tourismireland.com Glasgow: James Millar House, 7th Floor, 98 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1PJ Telephone: 0141 572 4030 Head of Great Britain: Vanessa Markey
Tourism Ireland is jointly funded by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. Working with the two tourist organisations Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, it is responsible for development and marketing to tourists within the island of Ireland. Enterprise Ireland 2nd Floor, Shaftesbury House, 151 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8AL Tel: 020 7438 8700 Web: www.enterprise-ireland.com Director — UK and Northern Europe: Marina Donohoe UK Manager, New Market Entrants: Christine Esson Senior Market Adviser — Construction: John Hunt
Embassy of Ireland, London 17 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HR Tel: 020 7235 2171 Web: www.embassyofireland.co.uk Passport Office: 114a Cromwell Road, London SW7 4ES Tel: 0207 373 4339 Irish Ambassador to Britain: Dan Mulhall Consulate General of Ireland to Scotland 16 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7TT Tel: 0131 2267711 Web: www.irishconsulatescotland.co.uk Consul General of Ireland to Scotland: Pat Bourne Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Comhaltas na Breataine, St Michaels Irish Centre, 6 Boundary Lane, Liverpool L6 5JG Tel: 0151 264 7437 Web: www.comhaltas.co.uk President: Vince Jordan (Birmingham)
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music. Irish Literary Society www.irishlitsoc.org
The Irish Literary Society was set up in London in 1892 to reflect on life as expressed via Irish literature and art. Irish Heritage 30 Pine Grove, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 9AW
Membership: Membership Secretary, 28 Northholme Road, London N5 2UU Email: irish.heritage1@gmail.com Web: www.irishheritage.co.uk Chairman: Niall Gallagher
Irish Heritage is a voluntary arts organisation founded to share an appreciation of the richness and variety of Irish and Anglo-Irish literature, music, drama, and other visual and performing arts.
Alumni Groups UCD (London) www.facebook.com/UCD.Alumni Director: Bryan Mahon
represents a broad range of ideas and perspectives to key stakeholders in Government, both nationally, in Dublin and London, and regionally, in Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and other British regions. London Irish Lawyers Association Web: www.londonirishlawyers.co.uk Co-chairs: Gráinne Mellon & Patrick Harte
LILA was founded to provide an outlet for the educational, professional and social needs of its members and aims to attract members from a pool of lawyers, students and academics based in Britain. Women’s Irish Network Web: www.womensirishnetwork.com Chair: Cecelia Gallagher
UCC (London) Web: www.ucc.ie/en/alumni/alumni/ www.facebook.com/UCCLondonAlumni Email: alumnilondon@umail.ucc.ie Chair: Antoinette Jordan
The Women’s Irish Network brings together women of Irish nationality and their friends in a spirit of generosity, optimism, determination and anticipation.
Trinity College Dublin (TDC) Alumni Association, London Web: www.tcdlondon.co.uk Chair: June Rodgers
The London Irish Construction Network Suite 310F, East Wing, Sterling House, Langston House, Loughton IG10 3TS Tel: 07836748231 Email: info@tlicn.com Web: www.tlicn.com
London Irish Business Society Web: www.li-bs.co.uk Email: info@li-bs.co.uk Chairman: Darren Glynn (Pcubed)
The London Irish Business Society was established in 2009 to provide a forum for Irish business professionals to network and share ideas. London Irish Graduate Network Web: www.londonirishgraduatenetwork.com Director: Sean O’Regan (Cass Business School)
LIGN provides a networking platform for young professionals and students by bringing together like-minded people in both professional and social settings. Irish International Business Network IIBN Global Head Office and IIBN UK, 2ndFloor, 15 Greycoat Place, London SW1P 1SB Web: www.iibn.com Email: info@iibn.com Executive Directors: Fionuala Pender & Sinéad Crowley
The Irish International Business Network works to connect Irish entrepreneurs and business people globally. British Irish Chamber of Commerce 3rd Floor, Newmount House, 22-24 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Tel: 00 353 1 400 43 22 Web: www.britishirishchamber.com Email: info@britishirishchamber.com CEO: Steve Aiken Director GB: Michael Keaveney
The British Irish Chamber of Commerce
The London Irish Construction Network (TLICN) was formed with the objective of creating and encouraging new business for its members. All-Party Parliament Party Group on the Irish in Britain Mr Chris Ruane MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 6378 Chair: Chris Ruane MP
APPG’s purpose is to raise awareness and represent, within Parliament, the interests and concerns of the Irish community. Centre for Irish Studies, St Mary’s University College Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, London TW1 4SX Tel: 020 8240 4008 Web: www.smuc.ac.uk/irish-studies Course Director: Professor Lance Pettitt Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool 1 Abercromby Square, Liverpool L69 7WY Tel: 0151 794 2393 Web: www.liv.ac.uk/irish-studies Institute Director: Professor Marianne Elliott Irish Studies Centre, London Metropolitan University 166 - 220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB General Enquiries: Damhnait Rumney, d.rumney@londonmet.ac.uk Director: Dr. Tony Murray
49
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
Part of your business week
typical day
A will always start with an early morning run followed by 12 HOURS OF WORK.
motivation
My comes from a number of things such as challenging NEW PROJECTS, designing better buildings and helping the less fortunate.
things that make me angry are bad
The manners and INCOMPETENCE.
hero
My business is Sir Michael Smurfit, in sport it’s Muhamad Ali and in politics, the late NELSON MANDELA.
I wanted to bea
When I was a child, ROSCOMMON SENIOR COUNTY FOOTBALLER but my very first job was working as a bricklayer.
best decade of my
The ’70s would have to be the life so far as it’s when I GOT MARRIED and also started my business.
worst moment however would
The be the BANKING CRISIS.
Life has taught me a number of good lessons, the first being that YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH. The other is that when things are
Out of office with…
going really well — watch out.
one thing I could change
SEAN MULRYAN
If there was in my life it would be to spend a little less time on the job and a little MORE TIME AT HOME.
Group Chief Executive & Chairman of Ballymore
Home is Ballymore Eustace in Co. Kildare. The best thing about it is that it is in the heart of the country and ONLY AN HOUR FROM DUBLIN. The worst is I don’t get to spend enough time there.
The Gooch – Kerry footballer Colm Cooper, right Ulysses off Connemara by Seán Keating
my favourite place
Away from home in Ireland is CLIFDEN and Connemara in general.
favourite record
Words: Siobhán Breatnach
My is Johnny Cash’s version of SUNDAY MORNING SIDEWALK, and you can’t beat the film Deerhunter for Robert De Niro at his best.
star players
When it comes to from Ireland that the rest of the world should know about it has to be Christy Ring (the legendary Cork hurler) or the Gooch (Kerry footballer COLM COOPER). Limerick artist Seán Keating’s ULYSSES OFF CONNEMARA is
Sean Mulryan is this year’s Irish Post Outstanding Contribution to Business in
greatest works of art. My ultimate guilty pleasure is a pint of GUINNESS. Over the next 12 months my biggest goal will be
Britain award-winner. Having trained as a bricklayer and stonemason, the Roscommon native started his own building company, Ballymore, in his early 20’s. Operating initially in and around Dublin, by 1992 Ballymore had grown into one of Ireland’s largest home builders. Opportunities in London soon beckoned and today Ballymore is considered one of the top developers in the capital, active in regeneration projects across the city. Having recently expanded into Europe, Ballymore is continuing its award-winning work on commercial and leisure developments.
one of the
STAYING ALIVE! 50
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THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
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