Irish managers are the best in the world, Digicel chairman Denis O’Brien told an event in Athlone today.
“Irish managers have an inferiority complex when it comes to taking on the big boys in industry," the Communicorp founder said while speaking during a seminar on innovation.
"My experience is that Irish managers are the best in the world, they learn fast, but more importantly, they can adapt rapidly to changing circumstances in the market and how to operate in new cultures.” Mr O’Brien said.
He advised those seeking business opportunities abroad to look at the emerging markets around the world.
"Places like Central and South America, Africa, Jordan and Libya offer real opportunities for technology companies, Irish professional service providers, food exporters, construction and development companies and hotel operators.” he said.
Some 300 people attended the seminar, which was hosted by business advisory group Russell Brennan Keane and Information Technology Association Midlands,
Liam Rattigan, chief executive of Russell Brennan Keane, said: “Entrepreneurs are everywhere, they are all around us, and our national mindset needs to get behind innovators, we need to learn to recognise, encourage and support them in order to put our economy back on it’s feet again.”