Irish Franchise Association
Committee Members
The Irish Franchise Association promotes the development of franchising in Ireland through exhibitions, seminars, newsletters, awards and networking. This website is intended to disseminate information about the franchise sector which will be of use to potential franchisees wishing to start their own franchised business, and potential franchisors looking to expand their existing business through business format franchising. Your comments and observations are welcome. Please email them to this address.
The Board of Directors of the Irish Franchise Association is as follows:
Chairman, John Green is master franchisor, Ireland, for Chem-Dry carpet & upholstery cleaning franchise. Together with his brother Pat, he acquired the licence in 1989 and currently has 43 franchisees operating across the country. John is chairman of the Irish Franchise Association and a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. He was voted ‘Franchise Person of the Year’ in 2005 for his work in promoting franchising in Ireland.
Deputy chairman, Fiacra Nagle is chief executive officer of the fastest growing Irish franchise, O’Briens Irish Sandwich Bar. Joining the company as a director in 2000, Fiacra had previously worked in international banking for almost 15 years. In November 2006, he led the company to a double win at the Irish Franchise Awards, scooping ‘Retail Franchise of the Year’ and winning himself the title of ‘Franchise Person of the Year.’ O’Briens has over 300 stores worldwide, including over 100 in Ireland.
Treasurer, Tom Shanahan is the master franchisor for Kendlebell, which provides a range of virtual office services. A chartered accountant with a degree in Business Studies, he is a graduate of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. Tom has been in business for over 20 years and has spent much of his career working for large multi-national organisations, including Motorola where he was CEO of Eirpage and director of European Wireless Operations. Subsequently he was MD of Software Paths and Zomax.
Legal Adviser, Bill Holohan, B.C.L., LL.B., F.C.I.L.S., F.C.I.Arb., is the principal of Bill Holohan and Associates, solicitors, Cork and Dublin. He is also a Notary Public, an arbitrator, a Trade Mark agent/Community Trade Mark practitioner and a Commissioner for Oaths. He is the honorary legal adviser to the Irish Franchise Association and a member of the executive committee of the Irish Maritime Law Association. In addition to acting as solicitor and adviser to private and business clients, he is the company secretary and/or company director of a number of companies.
Paul Fagan is master licensor for both ActionCOACH Business Coaching and Aussie Pet Mobile. Paul, a former banker, became a master licensor in 2002, bringing ActionCOACH Business Coaching (formerly Action International) to Ireland. He will be launching the mobile pet grooming service later this year.
Andy Hennessy and his business partner, Gerry Riordan, own the national master rights for the Fastway franchise system in Ireland, and operate throughout the 32 counties. They now have a full complement of nine regional franchisees and over 110 courier franchisees. Andy Hennessy is the director of sales and marketing, operating from the franchise support office in Swords, Co Dublin.
Michael Kearney bought the master licence for Snap Printing in 1982 and is currently chairman of the Board. Snap has 23 franchised centres throughout Ireland. Michael is also chairman of Home Instead Senior Care, which currently has eight offices in Ireland, and was winner of Ireland's ‘Best Emerging Franchise’ award in 2006. He is vice chairman of UNICEF Ireland, a charity that raises funds for the world's neediest children. His other interests include golf and rugby.
David Killeen is managing partner of Killeen & Associates, franchise consultants. As general manager of the retail brands’ division of Vantage Wholesale, David was instrumental in launching the Costcutter retail brand in Ireland and, with Statoil, the Fareplay brand which was the first business format franchise in the convenience store sector. He was mentored through best practice franchise principles by international franchise experts from America and shares that expertise, knowledge and his own practical experience through his franchise consultancy practice.
Colette Pennick is business development director of the streat franchising Ltd, one of Ireland’s newest, most exciting and fast growing café franchises. She began her career in fashion retail and rapidly became group buyer before co-founding one of Northern Ireland’s leading software businesses, growing it into one of Europe’s ‘Fast 500’ and Ireland’s ‘Fast 50’ companies. Colette is also a business adviser to a variety of start-up company owners.
Irish Franchise Association: Code of Ethics
Disclaimer: This Irish Franchise Association official website provides information about member companies of the Irish Franchise Association. It does not carry franchise advertising; does not present information in a way that favours one company over another, and will not link you to non-accredited franchise websites. The aim of the Irish Franchise Association is to raise the profile of franchising in Ireland. Our members have been vetted and agree to adhere to a strict code of business practice. Nothing on this website should be construed as an invitation to purchase or invest in a franchise or other business opportunity.