Born: Dublin.

Educated: Blackrock College, Dublin, and UCD.

Marital status: Married with six children.

Career: Worked as an accountant for and became a partner at Arthur Andersen until 1980, when he resigned to join Martin Naughton at Glen Dimplex as deputy chairman and finance director.

Interests: Golf, food (owns a share of Patrick Guilbaud's restaurant), art (collects modern paintings) and the west of Ireland.

Why is he in the news? He and Martin Naughton are about to open the Merrion Hotel, aimed at becoming the most exclusive hotel in Ireland.