Denis O'Brien
Mr. O'Brien is a graduate of University College Dublin (B.A. in History and Politics) and Boston College (MBA in Corporate Finance). In November 1989, Mr. O'Brien won a local radio licence for Dublin, Ireland and established Radio 2000 Limited (trading as 98FM).
In 1994, Mr O'Brien established Radio Investments N.V., which owns six radio stations broadcasting on 14 frequencies across the Czech Republic. The company also owns Radio Net, a national sales house, which represents 25 independent commercial radio stations throughout the Czech Republic. In 2000, Mr. O'Brien's company won an additional radio licence for Dublin for a dance music radio station, Spin FM. Mr. O'Brien's radio business presently employs in excess of 350 people between Ireland and the Czech Republic.
In 1991, he established Esat Telecom in Ireland, which became the first company to compete against the former state-owned telephone company, Telecom Eireann (now eircom). He also established Esat Digifone Limited and won Ireland's second GSM license, to compete against the then state-owned telephone company's mobile section, Eircell. In January 2001, Mr. O'Brien sold Esat Telecom Group plc to British Telecom Group plc for US$2.9 billion. In November 1998, Mr. O'Brien was voted Ireland's inaugural "Entrepreneur of the Year" in the global competition organised and sponsored by Ernst & Young.
In June 1999, the Prime Minister of Ireland, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., appointed Mr. O'Brien as Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which were held in Dublin in June 2003 - and for the first time in its history outside of the USA. The games were the largest sporting event in the world in 2003 and will include athletes from almost every country in the world.
Mr. O'Brien co-financed the establishment of VersaTel Telecom (Holland's second telephone company) and provided telecommunications support and advice to the company during its first three years. In 1998, Mr O' Brien purchased the world-renowned golfing and property resort, Quinta do Lago S.A. in the Algarve, Portugal. He has recently strengthened his golfing investments through the purchase of PGA European Tour Courses plc which owns golf courses in England, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Portugal.
Mr. O'Brien is a director and shareholder of numerous other companies including the Bank of Ireland, Media Lab Europe, Quinta do Lago S.A. (Portugal), e-via Spa (Italy), Communicorp Group Limited (Ireland) and 360 Networks (Canada).
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