Michael Smurfit
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Smurfit, KBE
(born 7th August 1936), is a businessman holding Irish
citizenship. In the 2010 Irish Independent Rich List, he was listed at 25th, with a €368 million personal fortune.
, United Kingdom
, was educated at Clongowes Wood College
, County Kildare
, Ireland
. He left school aged 16 and joined his father's company, Jefferson Smurfit & Sons Ltd
, in 1955. In 1967, he was appointed joint managing director and was made deputy chairman in 1969. He was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of the Jefferson Smurfit Group in 1977, a position he held until his retirement as CEO in November 2002.
and the United Kingdom
. He followed this with a series of acquisitions in the U.S.
, Latin America
and Continental Europe
, creating in the process Ireland’s first international company and a global leader in paper-based packaging. As chairman, Smurfit has recently overseen the merger of the Smurfit Group with Kappa Packaging BV to form the Smurfit Kappa Group
, employing 42,000 employees in 33 countries on 5 continents. The group had sales of €6 billion in 2009. He currently owns 4.9% of Smurfit Kappa. He is also a director of Ballymore International, a property development and investment group, and has investments in other small companies.
, the United Kingdom, United States
, Monaco and Spain. He co-owns the K Club
in County Kildare
, which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup
. He also owns a €53 million super yacht and the Smurfit Art Collection
, worth over €50 million. Smurfit also commissioned Anna Livia, a bronze monument formerly located on O'Connell Street in Dublin. It was affectionately known as the Floozie in the Jacuzzi.
He has two daughters and four sons and lives in Monte Carlo
. He is uncle to Irish actress Victoria Smurfit
. His son Tony Smurfit, also based in Monaco, is Group Chief Operations Officer of the Smurfit Kappa Group
.
and has been honoured by the governments of Colombia
, France
, the United Kingdom
, Italy
and Venezuela
. Leading national and international universities have also recognised him for his philanthropic work and business success. The postgraduate business school of University College Dublin
, the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
, is named after him as a result of his financial support.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 7th August 1936), is a businessman holding Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
citizenship. In the 2010 Irish Independent Rich List, he was listed at 25th, with a €368 million personal fortune.
Early life
Smurfit, who was born in St HelensSt Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, was educated at Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He left school aged 16 and joined his father's company, Jefferson Smurfit & Sons Ltd
Jefferson Smurfit
Jefferson Smurfit can refer to:* Jefferson Smurfit , Irish businessman* Jefferson Smurfit plc, former Irish paper packaging company founded by Jefferson Smurfit...
, in 1955. In 1967, he was appointed joint managing director and was made deputy chairman in 1969. He was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Jefferson Smurfit Group in 1977, a position he held until his retirement as CEO in November 2002.
Business success
During his tenure at the helm of the Jefferson Smurfit Group, Smurfit led the early expansion of the Group in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He followed this with a series of acquisitions in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
, creating in the process Ireland’s first international company and a global leader in paper-based packaging. As chairman, Smurfit has recently overseen the merger of the Smurfit Group with Kappa Packaging BV to form the Smurfit Kappa Group
Smurfit Kappa Group
The Smurfit Kappa Group is Europe's leading corrugated packaging company, following the merger of Jefferson Smurfit Group and Kappa Packaging. This merger was finalized by the end of 2005...
, employing 42,000 employees in 33 countries on 5 continents. The group had sales of €6 billion in 2009. He currently owns 4.9% of Smurfit Kappa. He is also a director of Ballymore International, a property development and investment group, and has investments in other small companies.
Personal life
Smurfit is a member of many sporting and social clubs in the IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, the United Kingdom, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Monaco and Spain. He co-owns the K Club
The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club
The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club is a golf and leisure complex located at Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland. It is built on the old grounds of Straffan House and at present is jointly owned by Gerry Gannon and Michael Smurfit....
in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup
2006 Ryder Cup
The 36th Ryder Cup Matches were held 22–24 September 2006 at the K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Team Europe won the competition by a score of 18½ to 9½ points, equalling their record winning margin of 2 years earlier. This was the first time Europe had achieved three successive victories...
. He also owns a €53 million super yacht and the Smurfit Art Collection
Smurfit Art Collection
Smurfit Art Collection is a collection of art work by the businessman Michael Smurfit. The Smurfit art collection contains work by such artists as Jack Butler Yeats, Louis Brocquy, Sir John Lavery, Donald Teskey, Peter Collis, Martin Mooney, Norah McGuinness, and Anne Madden....
, worth over €50 million. Smurfit also commissioned Anna Livia, a bronze monument formerly located on O'Connell Street in Dublin. It was affectionately known as the Floozie in the Jacuzzi.
He has two daughters and four sons and lives in Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
. He is uncle to Irish actress Victoria Smurfit
Victoria Smurfit
-Early life:She is part of the Smurfit family, one of the richest in Ireland. The family, headed by Victoria's uncle Michael Smurfit, sponsor a number of sporting events including the Smurfit European Open and the Champion Hurdle. The family is also associated with Smurfit Business School in U.C.D....
. His son Tony Smurfit, also based in Monaco, is Group Chief Operations Officer of the Smurfit Kappa Group
Smurfit Kappa Group
The Smurfit Kappa Group is Europe's leading corrugated packaging company, following the merger of Jefferson Smurfit Group and Kappa Packaging. This merger was finalized by the end of 2005...
.
Recognition
In 2005, Smurfit was appointed to be a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) in HM The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2005, published on Friday, 10 June 2005. He is honorary Irish consul to MonacoMonaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and has been honoured by the governments of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Leading national and international universities have also recognised him for his philanthropic work and business success. The postgraduate business school of University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is the business school of University College Dublin, located in Blackrock in Dublin, Republic of Ireland....
, is named after him as a result of his financial support.