Our most recent breakfast briefing took place on Friday, 5th October 2012 with one of Ireland’s most respected entrepreneurs John Teeling on the topic: The Future of Business, a personal perspective.
John Teeling is best known in Ireland as the Founder and Chairman of Cooley Distillery, however he also focuses on the Natural Resources sector, where over the years he has founded nine Stock Exchange listed companies. Cooley Distillery was recently sold to US drinks company Beam in a reported deal worth around $95m (€71m). Founded in 1987 and was the first rival to Pernod Ricard, the owner of Irish Distillers, who held a monopoly on Irish whiskey distilling. Cooley exports more than 90% of sales to over 40 countries. The Company’s best known brands are Kilbeggan, Tyrconnell, Connemara and Greenore. Teeling’s interests are varied In the Resources sector and include African Diamonds, developing a diamond mine in Botswana. Pan Andean Resources operates in the US, Peru and Colombia. Petrel Resources has been active in Iraq for ten years. Connemara Mining has made a significant zinc discovery in Limerick. Persian Gold is exploring for gold and copper deposits in Iran. Teeling, who lectured in Business Administration at UCD for 20 years, holds degrees from UCD (B. Comm, M. Econ. Sc), Wharton Business School in Philadelphia (M.B.A.) and a doctorate from Harvard Business School.
