Padraig O'Ceidigh

Pádraig Ó Ceidigh is the former chairman of Aer Arann. From a small Irish airline hopping between islands, Pádraig transformed the firm into one of the quickest growing airline enterprises in the world with a turnover of €100 million with a passenger total of over 1.2 million. Under Pádraig’s leadership, Aer Arann also became the first airline to achieve the ISO 9000 Quality award for customer service. Pádraig is a perfect business management speaker, stressing the importance and leadership and teamwork to create sustainable success.

Purchasing the airline in 1994, Pádraig soon began to expand the airline’s routes and fleet to begin scheduled services by 1998, at the same time, the company undertook the Irish Public Service Obligation flights between Donegal and Dublin as well as Sligo and Dublin. Today the airline operates over 700 flights a day across Ireland, the UK and France and has been awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or Honour by the European Regions Airline Association. The award was given for excellence and business performance within the firm.

Aside from business, Pádraig is also a keen academic, completing a third level education at NUIG as well as also being a Harvard University alumni and a fluent Irish speaker. Before purchasing Aer Arann, Pádraig also enjoyed careers in accountancy, teaching and as a solicitor. A keen business management speaker, Pádraig understands the importance of knowing your firm inside out in order to avoid costly mistakes from happening.

Pádraig’s awards prove testament to his achievements over his career. Named the Ernst and Young Irish Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002, Pádraig went on to represent his nation at the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2003 in Monte Carlo. His ongoing work with these awards has seen him become part of the judging panel on multiple occasions.

As an after dinner speaker, Pádraig delivers compelling speeches concerning the management of big business, as well as essential business practices that are often lost in large organisations. A charming and interesting character, Pádraig is an ideal business speaker event host, ensuring your evening runs to plan whilst engaging with audience members, making everyone feel a part of proceedings.