Mr O’Brien, one of the world’s leading entrepreneurs with extensive investments across several sectors, is a serial investor renowned for his ability to invest in difficult and often unstable developing countries.  O’Brien suggested his business model in these markets is simple – more for less, with his group typically going head-to-head with state owned companies or market leaders, and overtaking their market share within two years, by offering better networks, better service and lower prices.    

It was very evident as he talked to Broadcaster Gerry Kelly, that Denis O’Brien is a unique individual, whose impatient entrepreneurial drive is balanced by a deep seated belief in helping people in less fortunate situations.

His commitment to help people less fortunate than himself, such as Special Olympics Ireland, was illustrated throughout the Talk and is currently manifest in Haiti, where he has pledged $5m of his personal money in aid following the 2010 earthquake.  A strong sense of social conscience has resulted in O’Brien overseeing the opening of over 50 schools in Haiti since the earthquake.  Rather than retreating from the earthquake zone, he and his business interests have spent close to $250m since the event, on further business investment in the region.

 Speaking at the event, which attracted a “full house”, FPM’s Managing Partner, Feargal McCormack stated, that Denis’s entrepreneurial experiences, vision and views, which were shared during a par excellence chat with Gerry Kelly, were inspirational, and that he was confident that the Denis O’Brien Leadership Talk, would provide stimulus for the creation of further significant economic and social capital growth. 

Reviewing the FPM life journey, over the past 20 years, McCormack, a Visiting Professor, at the Ulster Business School,  stated that the FPM brand was associated with a desire “to serve and care”, to deliver service excellence.  He added that FPM’s motivation as trusted business advisors, was to help others to win, and therefore achieve their dreams and quality of life aspirations. 

Professor Marie McHugh, Dean of the Ulster Business School at University of Ulster stated, “we were delighted to work with Professor Feargal McCormack and his team at FPM in organising this special event to celebrate 20 years of excellent achievement at the Company. As a Business School that is committed to developing the entrepreneurial flair, business, management and leadership skills of its students, it was an honour to welcome such an inspirational figure as Denis O’Brien to the Ulster Business School to share with us his thoughts on his approach to business.”

The Irish businessman will be guest speaker at Belfast-based chartered accountants, FPM’s 20th Anniversary Leadership Lecture, hosted by broadcaster Gerry Kelly.

Denis O'Brien is one of Ireland's and indeed the world's leading entrepreneurs with extensive investments across several sectors including international telecoms, radio, media, property, aircraft leasing, golf and other leisure interests. 

Feargal McCormack, Managing Partner at FPM and Visiting Professor at the Ulster Business School said: “We are greatly honoured that Denis O’Brien agreed to be guest speaker at this special anniversary event.”

The guest lecture, being held in association with the University’s Ulster Business School, is part of the Management Leadership Network (MLN), Management February 2012.

Professor Marie McHugh, Dean of the Ulster Business School, said: “We are delighted that our Visiting Professor, Feargal McCormack, and his team at FPM have chosen to work with the Ulster Business School in organising this special event in the firm’s history.  Denis O’Brien is someone who, time and time again, has demonstrated expert management, leadership and business acumen and he is an excellent role model for our students.”

Chairman of the privately owned Digicel Group, one of the fastest growing mobile telephone operators in the world, Denis O’Brien founded the company in 2001. Since then the company has extended its operations to 32 markets with over 11 million subscribers in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific regions. 

Denis is also founder and Chairman of the Communicorp Group, which owns and manages a portfolio of media and broadcasting related companies in Ireland and other European countries.

Outside of his extensive business interests, Denis chaired the 2003 Special Olympic World Games in Ireland. He serves as a Director on the US Board of Concern Worldwide and is the Chairman and Co-founder of Frontline, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders based in Dublin.

Denis O’Brien, one of Ireland’s and indeed the world’s leading entrepreneurs with extensive investments across several sectors including international telecoms, radio, media, property, aircraft leasing, golf and other leisure interests will be interviewed by TV and radio personality Gerry Kelly.

Guests, who brought along toys to be distributed locally by the Saint Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army were welcomed by Cathal Austin, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade.

Lunch patrons were treated to beautiful festive entertainment by the presence of international violinist Patricia Treacy. 

Over 650 people attended the gala lunch, together with 200 children from local schools.  The Charity Lunch raised £67,852 approximately for local children’s charities incorporating cash and toys.  As a result, total funding raised over the twelve years of the event is £808,750.

Prior to the commencement of the Charity Lunch, the Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade organised a Santa’s Charity Fun Run in Hill Street, with almost 100 Santas’ sponsored by local businesses, running for fun and cheered on by local Personality Big O.  

There was a warm welcome at the event for Julia Sokele, wearing her exquisite  Princess Dress, who will represent Northern Ireland and Latvia at the Face of Europe Finals in Euro Disney from 8 –10 December 2011, The Disney Princess then assisted by Dr. Gerard O’Hare, Gemma Murphy, Orla Jackson and Declan McChesney presented three special primary school children with travel vouchers for their families to travel to Euro Disney and Nashville, USA.  The three special primary school children were:

Lauren Maguire – Ballyholland Primary School

Ciaran Finn Lynch – St. Joseph’s Primary School, Bessbrook

Ronan Duffy, St. Malachy’s Primary School & Nursery Unit, Camlough

Ryan Cinnamond, a child of courage, who defied the odds, received a tremendous reception at the Charity Lunch and was presented with a voucher towards a family holiday.  

A spokesperson for the organising committee said he was thrilled with the overwhelming success of the event which has now become the premier business social event in the region.  He added “adversity and challenging economic times, has the habit of bringing out the best in people and the Newry Charity Lunch is all about people and the Christmas Spirit of giving to others”.

After Dinner Speaker, Gene Fitzpatrick and a variety of local schools provided entertainment at the event.  The 12 nominated beneficiary charities of the Christmas Charity Lunch were the Newry Gateway Club, Rathore Special School and its associated Summer Scheme, St Vincent de Paul Society, The Salvation Army, The Children’s Ward Daisy Hill Hospital, Southern Area Hospice, the Polish Supplementary School in Newry, Friends of Children, Home-Start Newry & Mourne, The Drake Music Project, Riding for the Disabled Newry Group and the Pointer Programme.   

The McParland brothers John and Pat, along with manager, Deborah Ferguson and her staff at the Canal Court Hotel received much praise for their exceptional professionalism and generous support in hosting the beautiful lunch in a very efficient manner.

FPM were successful in wining the “Best Customer Service Award” at the Louth Business Awards on Saturday 15 October 2011, in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

 

FPM Chartered Accountants, Managing Partner, Feargal McCormack stated that he believed that businesses operating from the island of Ireland were now facing very stark challenges.  He acknowledged that the recent past trends of strong consumer demand, cheap credit and growing public expenditure was over.  He added, that “we are now facing a protracted reduction in domestic demand, tight credit controls for businesses and householders and reductions in public expenditure and public procurement”.  Feargal concluded his presentation by stating that it was his belief that the recovery had began and that it would be private sector export driven from the island of Ireland lead by an emphasis on encouraging new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and developing exciting and new indigenous companies to grow in size and become more internationally competitive. 

The guest speaker at the event was Brian Keegan, Director of Taxation at Chartered Accountants Ireland.  In a very comprehensive presentation on contrasting trends in international taxation with trends in the UK and Ireland and on the island of Ireland in terms of business and taxation issues, Brian stressed the importance of basing your tax planning around profits and not expenditure and highlighted that across the world there is now zero tolerance for tax evasion.  He added that one of the consequences of the economic downturn has been slippage in tax revenues, not just in the UK, not just in Ireland but globally.  The Government simply do not have as much money to spend as they had and tackling tax evasion is seen as increasingly important. 

FPM Tax Partner Janette Burns interpreted important tax issues arising from the recent UK Budget.  In particular she highlighted the growing tax attractiveness of Enterprise Investment Schemes following George Osbourne’s recent budget. 

FPM Senior Partner, Paddy Harty focused on income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax and highlighted that he believed as a result of higher income taxes and lower corporation taxes that there would be a growing trend for businesses to consider transferring from sole trader and partnership businesses to limited companies to mitigate tax liabilities. 

FPM Senior Tax Manager, Niamh Higgins focused on the Universal Social Charge introduced and further enhanced in the recent Irish Budget whilst her colleague Desi Foley highlighted the significant new changes in Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) in Ireland and the importance of having all your accounting records up to date and your tax affairs compliant in order to minimise your exposure to cash flow consequences of RCT. 

To conclude the presentations, FPM Senior Manager, Rory Ferguson made a presentation comparing and contrasting income tax, corporation tax and VAT in Northern Ireland relative to the Republic of Ireland and highlighting areas for smart tax planning. 

Following the presentations Gary McDonald chaired a very challenging and interesting Question and Answer session with the panel comprising Feargal McCormack, Paddy Harty, Brian Keegan and Janette Burns.