IIBN - International Irish Business Network

On 28th September 2009, IIBN launched its Dublin Chapter at The O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin. The Dublin launch, the third Chapter in the IIBN family, attached over 220 friends, members and guests.

The format for the launch evening included an introduction to IIBN from its Chairman, Conor Foley.

Five successful Irish entrepreneurs made brief company presentations on the night.

John Power, Chief Executive Officer, Aerogen:

John set up the company in Galway in 1997 as Cerus Medical and merged with US company Aerogen in 2000. In 2007 John led a successful MBO of his original business and Aerogen again became an Irish owned company. Aerogen currently employs 36 people leading the growth of its drug delivery business from its Galway headquarters, with sales support staff based in San Francisco, New York and Oxford in the UK. Sales this year are expected to top the €10 million mark.

Pat O’Flynn, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, oFactum:

oFactum is a Trade mark and symbolises Private Equity and Business Development. oFactum’s current focus is building and or partnering in businesses with an Enterprise Value (EV) of between €10 million and €50 million.

David Bobbett, Chief Executive Officer, HK International:

HK International is a leading global supplier of stainless steel kitchen equipment to the food service industry. The company employs 970 worldwide with manufacturing and service offices in Mexico, US, Canada, UK and Indonesia. Group Management and European Marketing are based in Dublin. HK delivers flexible, value driven restaurant equipment solutions in to 70 countries, supporting 20,000 restaurants. HK’s biggest customer is McDonald’s.

Dr Hugh O’Donnell, Chief Executive Officer, Kentz:

Kentz is a global engineering specialist solutions provider, which serves a blue chip client base primarily in the oil and gas, petrochemical and mining and metal sectors. Its clients include ExxonMobil, Shell, Rio Tinto, Qatar Petroleum and Linde. Kentz has operations in 23 countries and employs over 10,500 people across 35 nationalities. In the year ending 2008 the Company generated revenues of $643.4 million and profit before tax of $40.7 million.

Margaret Nelson, CEO, FM104:

Margaret Nelson started her career in FM104 as Sales Director and was appointed to the Board in 2004. FM104 is the largest local radio station in Ireland in terms of listeners and revenue – with nearly 200,000 Dubliners tuning in daily and employs in excess of 80 employees. Margaret was part of a management team who successfully sold the station to UTV in December 2007 for a record breaking price of €54 million. Margaret was appointed CEO by UTV in June 2008.

The formal proceedings will be followed by a private party at Lillie’s Bordello from 10pm.