Lochlann Quinn facts for kids

Lochlann Quinn, born in 1940, is a well-known Irish businessman and someone who gives a lot to charity. He is famous for being the chairman of big companies like Allied Irish Banks (AIB) and the Electricity Supply Board (ESB).

Mr. Quinn is a trained accountant and studied at University College Dublin. He helped a lot in growing Glen Dimplex, a company that makes heating and home appliances for people all over the world. He has also given a lot of money to University College Dublin, so much so that the business school there is named after him: the Lochlann Quinn School of Business. He also has important interests in hotels and properties. He is the brother of a politician named Ruairi Quinn and the father of Oisín Quinn, who used to be the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Early Life and Education

Lochlann Quinn went to Blackrock College for his schooling. He then studied at University College Dublin (UCD) and earned his degree in Commerce in 1962. By 1966, he became a qualified Chartered Accountant.

He is a very important supporter of the UCD Quinn School of Business, which helps students learn about business. In 2009, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, gave Mr. Quinn and Sir Michael Smurfit the UCD Ulysses Medal. This is the highest award the university can give.

Career Highlights

Mr. Quinn started his career at Arthur Andersen & Co. in London. In 1969, he came back to Dublin to lead their audit team in Ireland until 1980.

In 1980, he joined Glen Dimplex, which was a smaller Irish company at the time. He became the deputy chairman and finance director. Under his guidance, the company grew a lot. Today, Glen Dimplex is a huge company with many employees in Europe and Canada. Mr. Quinn was one of the two main owners of Glen Dimplex for a while, but he sold his share in 2004.

He also served as a director of AIB Bank and later became the chairman of the Allied Irish Banks Group. He is also part-owner of The Merrion Hotel.

His Time at AIB

While Mr. Quinn was chairman of AIB, there were some serious problems with how money was handled at AIB's American branch, AllFirst. Because of these issues, Mr. Quinn and the Chief Executive, Michael Buckley, offered to leave their jobs in March 2002. However, the board of AIB asked them to stay on.

Other Business Ventures

Mr. Quinn has many other business interests. These include The Merrion Hotel in Dublin, which is a very well-known hotel. He also owns commercial buildings in Dublin, London, and Brussels. He even owns a vineyard in Bordeaux, France, called Château de Fieuzal, where grapes are grown to make wine.

Since 2008, he has been the chairman of the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), which is the main company that provides electricity in Ireland.

Giving Back to the Community

Lochlann Quinn is a big supporter of arts and culture. He has given a lot of money to the National Gallery of Ireland and used to be its chairman. He also served as chairman of the Irish Museum of Modern Art from 1997 to 2003. He is also a member of an advisory board for the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business.

Family Life

Lochlann Quinn is married to Brenda, and they have six children. His brother is Ruairi Quinn, who is a well-known politician. His son, Oisín Quinn, was a councillor for Dublin City Council and also served as the Lord Mayor of Dublin.