Denis O'Brien tells Irish managers are the world's best

Leading entrepreneur Denis O'Brien said last week that Irish managers were the best in the world. Addressing a packed Innovation in Difficult Times seminar in the Radisson Blu Hotel. Mr O'Brien said Irish managers were the best in the world, although they often had an inferiority complex. He said Irish managers were capable of adapting to conditions and could talk to anybody, making them the best in his experience. The seminar, which was hosted by Russell Brennan Keane and ITAM (Information Technology Association Midlands), was attended by business people from across the midlands. Addressing the 270-strong crowd, Mr O'Brien said: "Irish managers, have an inferiority complex when it comes to taking on the big boys in industry. My experience is that Irish managers are the best in the world, they learn fast, but more importantly, they can adapt rapidly to changing circumstances in the market and how to operate in new cultures." He said the current economic climate was the perfect opportunity for businesses to take advantage of their competition. Mr O'Brien said as Irish people we tend to be too nice, but advised those in attendance that now was the time to kill the competition and advised that people should cut their cost bases in order to survive the current downturn. He added that optimism was a huge part of his success and said he had no time for whingers. He said whingers and negative thinkers had a terrible impact on business and could impact on morale. Referring to the Celtic Tiger era, Mr O'Brien said Trinidad had a carnival festival for two weeks of the year to celebrate life, but our carnival had lasted ten years and said it was now time to settle down. He said while businesses could be innovative, they had to be market-led. While not for the faint-hearted, one theme was very clear throughout the morning, "Irish people looking for business opportunities abroad should look at the emerging markets around the world. "Places like Central and South America, Africa, Jordan and Libya offer real opportunities for technology companies, Irish professional service providers, food exporters, construction and development companies and hotel operators," Mr O'Brien said. Sponsoring the event, Liam Rattigan, Chief Executive of Russell Brennan Keane said: "Entrepreneurs are everywhere, they are all around us, and our national mindset needs to get behind innovators, we need to learn to recognise, encourage and support them in order to put our economy back on it's feet again." John Mee, ITAM said: "We expected that Denis O'Brien would be inspirational and motivational for all in attendance and we have not been disappointed and we are delighted and privileged that Denis facilitated us, this morning will provide a significant boost for furthering the aims of ITAM in the region."