Niall FitzGerald

Niall FitzGerald (born 13 September 1945), is an Irish businessman.

For the Irish Gaelic footballer, see Niall FitzGerald (Gaelic footballer).

Early life and education

FitzGerald was born 13 September 1945 in County Sligo. FitzGerald grew up in Limerick, Ireland, and was educated at St Munchin's College in Limerick. He obtained a Commerce degree from University College, Dublin (UCD).[1]

Career

His executive career was with Unilever for 37 years. He was an executive board member for 18 years and served respectively as Finance Director, Foods Director and Detergents Director until his appointment as Chairman and CEO in 1996; a position he held until 2004. During his Unilever career he worked and lived in Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, the US and the UK.

FitzGerald has chaired a broad range of companies and public bodies. These include Reuters, Hakluyt, the Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust, International Business Council, Conference Board, Investment Climate Facility for Africa, British Museum, the Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TAB) and Advertising Association.

He has also served on the Boards of Bank of Ireland, Ericsson, Merck, Prudential Corporation and chaired Audit, Remuneration and Governance Committees. Other Board mandates have included the World Economic Forum, Council on Foreign Relations, International Policy Council for Agriculture and Trade, President of South Africa's International Advisory Council, Kok Commission on the Lisbon Agenda, Spencer Stuart Advisory Board.

Current engagements include Chairman, Brand Learning; Chairman, NiJaCo; Chairman, Hakluyt International Advisory Board; Chairman, Munster Rugby Commercial Board; Chairman, UCD Graduate Business School; Chairman, Leverhulme Trust; Senior Advisor, Allen & Co.; Member of Mitsubishi International Advisory Committee and Chairman of Governors at Cumnor House Sussex prep school.[2]

Awards and honours

FitzGerald was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002, and holds a number of Honorary Doctorates from American, British and Irish universities. He has also been the recipient of numerous other awards for his work on global business issues, including

  • Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (2002), received at the International Achievement Summit in Dublin, Ireland[3][4]
  • Society of Chemical Industry Centenary Medal (2004)
  • Royal Dublin Society Gold Medal for Industry (2006)
  • Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship (2008)
  • Business & Finance Award for Outstanding Business Achievement (2008)
  • Perlmutter Award for Excellence in Global Business Leadership (2011)

On 13 November 2014 FitzGerald was presented with an honorary degree in Economic Science from University of Limerick.[5]

Personal life

Fitzgerald is married to Ingrid and they have a 1-year-old daughter, Gabriella. He has 3 children from a previous marriage.[6]

References
  1. "Profile: Niall Fitzgerald". Forbes. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  2. "cumnor house sussex school governors". Cumnor House Sussex. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  3. "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  4. "The Summit". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  5. Rabbitts, Nick (13 November 2014). "Leading Limerick businessmen to get honorary degrees from UL". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. Martinson, Jane (2 February 2007). "Interview: Niall FitzGerald". The Guardian. London: GMG. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
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