The Donnelly Group is a family owned business which employs about 300 people in the greater Dublin area. The group was founded in 1979 and its constituent parts include Donnelly Fruit and Veg (www.donnelly.ie); Glan Aris (www.glanaris.ie) which provides returnable packaging solutions; Wonderfoods, their very successful and dynamic prepared foods business; and the Donnelly Farms.

Shaws (www.shaws.ie) is a private family-owned business which celebrated its 150'th anniversary in 2014. Shaws operates 16 department stores around Ireland in prominent high street and shopping centre locations and provides employment to 750 people.

I visit the US about 4 times a year as part of my role with the Conti Group (www.conticorp.com). The Conti Group is a global developer and builder of capital asset projects. The firm delivers complex engineering and construction projects across the United States and internationally. Based in Edison, New Jersey, and founded in 1906, Conti operates in the Energy, Environmental, Industrial and Infrastructure markets for public and private customers.

Gabbit Consulting does Consulting Assignments in a variety of industries. Gabbit Investment Trust and related entities manage an investment portfolio.

Agenda communications (www.agenda-comm.ie) has 30 years’ experience in the management of European and International professional medical associations. The expertise and experience of Agenda’s staff and the services they offer allow the leadership of their client organisations to focus on their professional careers while they manage the business of their voluntary associations. I became chairman in 2017 when MML Growth Capital Partners backed a management team buy-out of the business.

In April 2017 I completed my second term on the board of Bewley's which was the largest and most recognised tea and fresh coffee brand in Ireland. About one out of every three fresh coffees served in Ireland was a Bewley’s coffee. In the US, Bewley’s operated Rebecca’s Cafés in Boston, and Java City, a coffee roasting, wholesale and cafe operation based in Sacramento, California. At the time, Bewley’s had expanded their Irish foodservice operation in the UK, acquiring Darlington’s Coffee based… Show more In April 2017 I completed my second term on the board of Bewley's which was the largest and most recognised tea and fresh coffee brand in Ireland. About one out of every three fresh coffees served in Ireland was a Bewley’s coffee. In the US, Bewley’s operated Rebecca’s Cafés in Boston, and Java City, a coffee roasting, wholesale and cafe operation based in Sacramento, California. At the time, Bewley’s had expanded their Irish foodservice operation in the UK, acquiring Darlington’s Coffee based in London and Yorkshire based Bolling Coffee, home of the Grumpy Mule brand of sustainable coffees. Show less

Firstcom, (www.firstcom.ie) started out supplying traditional advertising services and later provided end-to-end digital solutions, marketing services and brand consulting. I became a shareholder in Firstcom (then Bofin Byers) and Chairman in March 2000 and continued in that role until March 2017 when Firstcom merged its business with Owens DDB. This was a happy ending – a good outcome for original founder Conor Bofin and the Firstcom team who brought a wide range of creative skills in the… Show more Firstcom, (www.firstcom.ie) started out supplying traditional advertising services and later provided end-to-end digital solutions, marketing services and brand consulting. I became a shareholder in Firstcom (then Bofin Byers) and Chairman in March 2000 and continued in that role until March 2017 when Firstcom merged its business with Owens DDB. This was a happy ending – a good outcome for original founder Conor Bofin and the Firstcom team who brought a wide range of creative skills in the brand development, web, video and audio production areas to the merged business. Show less

Simtech aviation is an EASA standard TRTO approved training organisation providing a range of training services to airline personnel, career pilots and simulator engineers from a base at the Simtech centre in the Dublin Airport Logistics Park. Almost three years to the day after I joined the company a controlling interest was sold to Renatus Capital Partners and Martello Group, a specialist aviation, leisure and real estate group. While Covid19 has had big impact on the airline Industry and… Show more Simtech aviation is an EASA standard TRTO approved training organisation providing a range of training services to airline personnel, career pilots and simulator engineers from a base at the Simtech centre in the Dublin Airport Logistics Park. Almost three years to the day after I joined the company a controlling interest was sold to Renatus Capital Partners and Martello Group, a specialist aviation, leisure and real estate group. While Covid19 has had big impact on the airline Industry and pilot training, with the financial strength and expertise of its new investors, Simtech is well positioned to leverage its international reputation to expand the business significantly. Show less

Headquartered in New Jersey, SunDurance Energy, LLC was a solar energy delivery company that developed, designed, built and operated megawatt-scale solar power solutions in complex environments across North America. SunDurance offered full in-house design and project execution capabilities, rigorous value engineering processes, significant bonding capacity, and deep design/build experience. In 2014 SunDurance was consolidated into the Conti Group - previously the majority shareholder. In 2018… Show more Headquartered in New Jersey, SunDurance Energy, LLC was a solar energy delivery company that developed, designed, built and operated megawatt-scale solar power solutions in complex environments across North America. SunDurance offered full in-house design and project execution capabilities, rigorous value engineering processes, significant bonding capacity, and deep design/build experience. In 2014 SunDurance was consolidated into the Conti Group - previously the majority shareholder. In 2018, Conti sold a controlling interest in Conti Solar (now called CS Energy – www.csenergy.com) to ARES EIF. Show less

From 1998 to 2007 I was Chairman of Mapflow, a leading Irish technology company. Mapflow provides location intelligent solutions to some of the world’s leading organizations. I was an active chairman, working with an excellent management team and a number of different investors including the founders, a VC, a BES fund and a firm of stockbrokers. During my period as chairman Mapflow recruited a new CEO, halved the headcount (post the 2000 crash in the technology sector) and did two successful… Show more From 1998 to 2007 I was Chairman of Mapflow, a leading Irish technology company. Mapflow provides location intelligent solutions to some of the world’s leading organizations. I was an active chairman, working with an excellent management team and a number of different investors including the founders, a VC, a BES fund and a firm of stockbrokers. During my period as chairman Mapflow recruited a new CEO, halved the headcount (post the 2000 crash in the technology sector) and did two successful fundraisings. The business was repositioned, grew significantly and became profitable. A majority stake in the business was sold to US owned SOS Ventures in 2007. Mapflow was sold again in 2013 to LexisNexis a subsidiary of Reed Elsevier. This was an excellent outcome for the founders, investors and the management team. Show less

In 1983 I did a management-buy-in to a retail consumer electronics business (Harry Moore Limited). I ran this business from 1983 to 1997, growing it 50 fold and had become the only shareholder by the time I sold it to Dixons Stores Group in 1997. In 1995 and again in 1997 I was named as one of Europe’s top 500 Entrepreneurs as part of the European Commission sponsored “Europe 500” Project. While running Harry Moore I also became involved in a number of other businesses including a consumer… Show more In 1983 I did a management-buy-in to a retail consumer electronics business (Harry Moore Limited). I ran this business from 1983 to 1997, growing it 50 fold and had become the only shareholder by the time I sold it to Dixons Stores Group in 1997. In 1995 and again in 1997 I was named as one of Europe’s top 500 Entrepreneurs as part of the European Commission sponsored “Europe 500” Project. While running Harry Moore I also became involved in a number of other businesses including a consumer finance company, a TV and video rental company and a mobile phone business. Show less

I joined Price Waterhouse/Craig Gardner (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) in 1978 as a trainee Chartered Accountant. I qualified in 1981 and worked for a further two years in the business advisory and consulting areas. I was an Assistant Manager when I left to take up the Harry Moore opportunity which arose out of a series of advertisements I placed on the back page of the Irish Times.