Michael Austen: Michael Austen, deputy managing director of The Irish Times, who died last Tuesday, was a cheerful and creative manager. Below the bonhomie a shrewd tactical mind was at work, and though his life was cut cruelly short at the age of 51, the pattern of achievement is clear to see.
His was an unusual upbringing for someone who appeared to be a typical Dublin southsider. Born on October 7th, 1954, in India where his father worked on a plantation, he boarded at Blackrock College, Dublin, flying "home" to spend holidays with his parents. His father later took a posting in Nigeria. Michael was thus equipped with a fund of stories about experiences abroad, which he re-enacted rather than told for the benefit of his audiences in later years.
He joined the Federated Union of Employers (later Ibec) in 1977, as an industrial relations adviser to member companies. He left after five years and joined the Rover group. At Rover, as at other motor importers, free trade was ending car assembly in Ireland. It had never been a happy sector for industrial relations, and closing plants in a time of high unemployment needed sensitive handling.
"The unions didn't like what they were hearing about job losses, but Michael was always very polite and courteous and listened to what they had to say, and they gave him credit for that when the going got rough," a colleague from those days recalls. Rover closed its car assembly plant and a car seat frame plant.
He also worked for Ryanair, Initial Services, and National Irish Bank, and rejoined Ibec as head of industrial relations consulting. As a manager he was a "people person" rather than a "number cruncher". His colleague and friend of 30 years, Ibec director general Turlough O'Sullivan describes Michael Austen as "dependable, professional, courteous, and very funny, witty beyond belief". He also remembers a sophisticated and creative mind at work, someone who saw the workplace as a partnership long before the word acquired a capital letter and the more formal framework in which we think of it today.
Two words, funny and courteous, run through almost everyone's memories of Michael Austen. The humour was unexpected, until you discovered that his uncle was writer Brian O'Nolan, aka Flann O'Brien and Myles na gCopaleen. There was also an element of theatre about Michael. He was not one to slip quietly into a room; he bounced in, greeting people by name, with a quip to break the ice. No negotiation involving Michael was over, and nobody could go home, until he had stood up and examined the deal on offer from all angles, recognising the inputs of all the parties. Shrewd hands recognised that he was presenting the elements of the deal just reached in terms which the participants could "sell" to their various constituencies.
He joined The Irish Times as head of human resources in 1995. A period of human resources innovation and creativity followed. He instituted a career development programme and offered training courses in management skills, and time management techniques. He was appointed to the board as director of human resources in 1999, and became deputy managing director in 2002.
In 2001, with losses amounting to €20 million, the newspaper went through a painful cost-cutting and restructuring,
Michael had to craft the best severance package that expensive borrowings allowed, and showed great tact, application, and empathy in dealing with people affected.
He confided to a colleague that he was less worried about the morale of those who had opted to leave than those who felt they had to stay.
Few others would have the perception to see that. The process succeeded and the newspaper returned to profitability and Michael played a leading role in that.
He was devoted to his family, read voraciously and admired the management theories of Charles Handy. Sailing was a passion, but friendships counted for more.
He became ill as he prepared for important discussions with unions. His colleagues heard with shock of his sudden death. None was untouched by his passing.
He was the oldest of a family of four, with two brothers and a sister. He is survived by his wife, Anne Daly, his son, Kevin and daughter Maeve-Ann.
Michael Austen: born October 7th, 1954; died February 7th, 2006