Former HOK head takes a step into print

Many leading figures in the property industry were in celebratory mood in Dublin’s Grafton Street last night for the launch of…

Many leading figures in the property industry were in celebratory mood in Dublin’s Grafton Street last night for the launch of Paul McNeive’s new book on his life and times after he lost both his legs at the age of 20.

He later spent almost 30 years in the estate agency business, ending up as managing director of Hamilton Osborne King which he and chairman Aidan O’Hogan managed to sell to UK giants Savills just before the property crash for a whopping €55 million.

Small Steps traces his career after he was dragged from a burning car with burns to 76 per cent of his body, various broken bones and a cracked skull. His long stay in hospital coincided with that of many survivors of the Stardust fire disaster.

McNeive specialised for much of his career in the industrial property market and despite

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all the physical challenges slowly worked his way up the management structure to become managing director of HOK in 2004. He says it was a “stroke of luck” that he headed up the company with 250 staff during the country’s longest ever economic and property boom.

Unlike so many other leading estate agents who have had few or no interests outside the business, McNeive has also managed to forge a successful career in the music industry.

He appeared on RTÉ’s Late Late Show way back in 1990 and more recently has completed a world tour doing a highly successful impersonation of Bono. In between stage appearances he has also trained as a helicopter pilot.

For a day job he is now advising a number of leading companies and is also in demand as a professional speaker.