McKee
(26 Sep 2008)
Will McKee is one of Ireland’s most experienced board directors, and is chairman or non-executive director of a number of leading international companies.
His competence comes from a strong marketing and commercial background with a rigorous business education. This includes completion of the Harvard Business School OPM Program, as well as Corporate Governance programmes at HBS and IMD Lausanne.
Working history
The first ten years of Will’s working life from 1966 were spent as an international marketing executive in the textiles industry. He worked in the North American, Asian and European markets. Much of his business experience and knowledge has been directly applied to helping companies to trade internationally.
Will has hands on experience of running international businesses in the following sectors: medical devices, food, engineering, giftware, business consulting, and fashion.
Throughout his business life, Will has been heavily involved in various facets of corporate finance and venture capital, and has raised capital for numerous businesses.
Some of the major companies which have featured strongly in his business career include:
• Belleek Pottery • Jefferson Smurfit Group
• Moygashel • Mivan Group
• Moy Park • Paul Costelloe International
• Shell • Valpar International
• Leckpatrick
Will is Chairman of Linkubator Ltd, a business development consulting company which, in addition to “Helping Business Leaders”, works in support of Government FDI strategy by attracting SMEs in the Life Sciences sector in the USA to visit Ireland.
He has just completed a five year spell on the board of ESB and is a Director of the Northern Bank, part of the Dankse Banking Group.
Public service
Past public service and voluntary appointments include LEDU, Northern Ireland Innovation Programme, NI Bioscience and Technology Institute and NI Higher Education Council.
He currently chairs the joint advisory board in Northern Ireland for the Institute of Leadership and Management, and the City and Guilds of London, where he is also a council member.
Conference speaking
Will is a passionate and engaging speaker on business related subjects, with wide experience of addressing audiences in conference mode or more informal workshop environments. Among the topics he covers are:
• Entrepreneurship • Priorities • Change
• Board Performance • Failure • Entrepreneurial Selling
• Leadership • Goal Setting • Success
Author
Will's new book "STAR - Leadership Behaviours for Stellar SME Growth" was published in June 2008, in association with Ulster Bank. STAR describes best-practice approaches using real-life examples, showing how SMEs led by leaders who practice the behaviours of STAR leadership will deliver stellar growth: delivering reward to the workforce, shareholders, leadership team, the SME leader and all stakeholders in the enterprise.
In July 2002, Will was awarded a Special Certificate from His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, in recognition of his outstanding personal achievement in business education and training.
For further information, or to book Will for your next event please call 01 6190243 or email info@speakersolutions.ie