LIAM DONLON (1948-2011) passed away on May 13th, following a long illness fought with great dignity and courage.
He was a major driving force behind the successful development of KBC Ireland’s (KBCI) domestic and international businesses for nearly 30 years.
Having graduated from UCD in 1969, Liam started his career with Cement Roadstone Holdings, before moving to Industrial Credit Corporation in 1972, which was the start of his highly successful career in banking. He moved to Hill Samuel Ireland in 1974. In 1980 Liam joined Irish Intercontinental Bank (IIB – now KBCI). He played a pivotal role during the 1980s and 1990s in establishing the bank as one of Ireland’s leading corporate banks and developing KBCI’s position with the burgeoning aerospace industry. As a result of his success, Liam was appointed to the board in 1988.
With the advent of the single EC financial market, in the late 1980s Liam and KBCI’s executive team began to explore ways of expanding into international markets. At that time Shannon Free Airport Development Company (SFADCo) was an attractive location to establish a financial services company and was home to a number of aviation leasing companies, including GPA, with which Liam had established strong relationships.
He and his colleagues had undertaken the preparatory work to establish a new venture in SFADCo, when the International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) in Dublin was announced. Liam quickly changed tack and applied for a licence to operate from the IFSC, resulting in KBCI being the first bank to obtain such a licence.
He became managing director of the business and achieved enormous global success from the mid 1990s, representing Ireland on the world financing stage.
Liam used his relationships and experience with the aerospace industry to secure a global mandate from the parent, KBC Bank, to establish an Aerospace financing business headquartered in Dublin. The business developed into one of great success, but such was his ambition that Liam continually sought new areas of business. In 1994 a Shipping Finance Division was established and in 1996, following great success in the UK, KBC Bank asked him to develop its global project finance business. This was subsequently expanded to include Structured Trade Finance.
At its height, Project and Structured Finance had offices in Dublin, Brussels, London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney. The business employed 70 people and achieved a scale of several billion euro. To achieve this, Liam spent many hours travelling internationally, reflecting his commitment and work ethic. The business competed at the highest level in the international markets, secured numerous mandates to arrange high profile projects world-wide and developed an excellent reputation.
Liam was a consummate banker and the risk appetite he established for the business ensured it was highly profitable for KBC over many years. He was appointed to the board of KBC’s Merchant Bank in 2006, which was a great tribute to his experience and achievements. This was a position he held until he retired in 2009.
Liam’s international success and reputation was recognised when he was appointed chairman of the Federation of International Banks in Ireland, in 2009.
In his spare time Liam was a keen golfer and wine connoisseur. Liam was also conscious of those less well off, and was involved in a number of charities including the IFSC Inner City Trust. He was a great supporter of Belvedere College’s Social Integration Scheme.
Liam was a man of humility, discernment and great distinction. He is survived by his partner, Siobhan Lynch, his four children, Colm, Emma, Barry and Maria and their mother Margaret. – NM