Ray O'Rourke (businessman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray O'Rourke
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| Born |
Raymond Gabriel O'Rourke
January 1947 (age 78) County Leitrim, Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder and 55% owner of Laing O'Rourke |
| Title | Chairman and CEO, Laing O'Rourke |
Raymond Gabriel O'Rourke is a very successful Irish businessman. He was born in January 1947 in County Leitrim, Ireland. He grew up in a place called Corraleehan, near Ballinamore. Ray O'Rourke is known for being the chairman and CEO of a big construction company called Laing O'Rourke.
A CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is like the main boss of a company. A chairman leads the company's board of directors. Laing O'Rourke is a multinational company, meaning it works in many different countries.
Ray O'Rourke runs Laing O'Rourke with his brother, Des. Ray owns more than half of the company, about 55%. When he was young, he started working in construction in London. He began as a "pony boy," which meant carrying dirt and materials out from under the city. This was when the Victoria Line, a subway line, was being built. He has become very wealthy through his work.
Building a Business
Ray O'Rourke has always been involved in construction. He once bought a construction company called Swift Structures. This company was owned by his brothers-in-law, Jim and Matt Halligan.
Family in Business
Ray O'Rourke's son, Cathal, also works for Laing O'Rourke. In March 2023, Cathal was given an important job as the company's chief operating officer. A chief operating officer helps manage the daily running of the company. In June 2024, it was announced that Cathal would take over from his father. He became the CEO of Laing O'Rourke in July 2024.
Achievements and Awards
Ray O'Rourke has received special recognition for his work. He has been given honorary doctorates from two universities. These are the Dublin Institute of Technology and Queen's University, Belfast. An honorary doctorate is a special degree given to someone who has achieved a lot, even if they didn't study at that university.
In 2011, he received a very high honor. He was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). This is a special award given by the British monarch to people who have made a big difference.
