David's Story
David held many key positions with international companies, such as Kerry Group PLC, but is best known for his six years with Digicel, which he joined in 2002 as Finance Director. Within 12 months, he assumed the role of CEO for Digicel Jamaica, their largest market with 400,000 customers. During his tenure, David aggressively grew the customer base to 2 million, and market share to 75% while increasing revenues by 400% and annual EBITDA to just under US$300m.
Having taken Jamaica to unparalleled heights, David was promoted again to the role of CEO Digicel Northern Caribbean, where he assumed responsibility for six additional Caribbean islands.
Whether multinational or start up, David is a motivated leader with a proven ability to build successful teams who perform in a results-driven, fast-paced and dynamic environments. Throughout his career he has consistently demonstrated his ability to build relationships with key stakeholders while delivering exceptional results.
After spending a year developing the concept, confident in his extensive business relationships, he founded and launched VIP Attractions at both of Jamaica’s international airports in April 2011. VIP Attractions, under the brands "Club Mobay", "Club Kingston" and “Jamaica Experiences”, help showcase the incredible offerings which Jamaica has available to its visitors. Since launching, VIP Attractions has won numerous domestic and international awards. In 2014, Club Kingston was voted the Priority Pass Best Airport Lounge in the World out of more than 700 entrants. Then in 2015, Club Mobay was voted Best Airport Lounge in the Caribbean and Americas at the World Travel Awards. Today, 1 in 7 visitors to Jamaica utilise the VIP service and the company now proudly stands with more than 400 employees.
David is passionate about the need for large corporations to give back to the economies which have helped them to grow and as such, corporate social responsibility is high on his list of priorities. During his time in Jamaica, he served as a member of the Board of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and was appointed Ambassador for the University of the West Indies.
David is still involved with several Jamaican charities but is most proud of the ‘Genesis School’ for Special Needs which he helped build in 2010. David also held the role of Chairman for the Branson Caribbean Foundation - "Centre of Entrepreneurship" for three years from 2016-2018. The centre assists aspiring business owners by offering training, mentorship, business knowledge and financial resources.
Whilst continuing as Executive Chairman of VIP Attractions, David returned to Ireland in 2019 and is now an investor in a portfolio of business interests, which include property developer, Glencarra Homes and IFPIL, which has invested in Irish Flexible Packaging in addition to Fispak in 2019.
He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, a Masters graduate from Dublin City University and has a Masters in Economics from University College Cork.