Two of IT Sligo’s most internationally high profile alumni will return to Sligo this month to take part in an event organised by IT Sligo and Sligo Chamber on the subject of ‘Sharing Success’.
Donard Gaynor and Peter Gallogly, both Sligo natives and graduates of IT Sligo, will join the CEO of Aurivo (formerly Connacht Gold), Aaron Forde, and Tommy Higgins, former Director of Ticketmaster Ireland, in an event in the Clarion Hotel on October 10th.
Donard Gaynor (above) has served at Senior Vice President level with Beam Global Spirits & Wine and as Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the USA and was appointed non executive Director of Glanbia plc earlier this year. Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group which has its origins in the Irish co-operative movement. Beam is one of the top four global spirits companies. Its brands include Jim Beam, Bourbon, Canadian Club Whiskey, Teachers Scotch Whiskey and Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. It employs 3,200 people worldwide and generated sales of €2.8 billion in 2011.
Mr Gaynor was born and raised in Sligo and educated in Summerhill College before studying accountancy at IT Sligo. When he qualified in the 1970s, he was one of the youngest chartered accountants in Ireland.
Peter Gallogly (above) , also a former student at Summerhill College, is the current Commercial Director with Dixons Retail, and has previously held roles such as Commercial Director with Pernod Ricard, Managing Director with Dillon Bass and International Brand Manager with Jameson.
The two IT Sligo alumni will be joined by Aaron Forde, CEO with Aurivo and Chairman of the Irish Dairy Board, and Tommy Higgins (below) who, until recently, held the position of Director with Ticketmaster Ireland.
President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott, said the Institute is continually looking to its graduates and the region’s business leaders to contribute and support its strategic direction; “We at IT Sligo are fortunate and proud to have such successful alumni and supportive stakeholders in the business community, and events like this provide us with an opportunity to reflect on our success and plan for the future, to support our graduates as they rise to the top of their chosen professions.”
President of Sligo Chamber, Trevor McDaid said that the event marked further evidence of IT Sligo linking with its business community in driving economic development in the North West Region; “We are very proud of our association with IT Sligo and are confident that, by continuing to build on our close ties, we will continue to deliver growth in our region and greater employment opportunities for IT Sligo graduates.”
The event – which will see all four business leaders share the secrets of their success – will be chaired by Anton Savage, presenter of the Today FM Business Programme, Savage Sunday. While admission is by invitation only, the event will be recorded for transmission on Up & Running – the weekly business programme on Ocean FM sponsored by IT Sligo’s Innovation Centre. The programme will be available by podcast on www.oceanfm.ie