Tony Smurfit
Tony Smurfit | |
|---|---|
 Smurfit in 2019 | |
| Born | Anthony Paul James Smurfit[1] 1963 (age 60–61) Wigan, United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | University of Scranton |
| Title | CEO of Smurfit Kappa |
| Spouse |
Sharon Devlin (m. 1990) |
| Children | 4 |
| Family | Michael Smurfit (father) |
Anthony Paul James Smurfit (born 1963) is a British-Irish businessman. He serves as the CEO of FTSE 100 packaging company Smurfit Kappa Group, which is named after his grandfather, John Jefferson Smurfit.
Early life and career[edit]
Smurfit was born in 1963 in Wigan in Lancashire to businessman Michael Smurfit and Norma Triesman.[3][4] He attended the Irish St Gerard's School and the American University of Scranton, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management in 1985.[5][6] Subsequently, Smurfit spent some time in Japan to study the packaging industry.[5]
He joined Smurfit Kappa – then called "Jefferson Smurfit" and led by his father – in the 1980s and was appointed director in 1989.[5] He served in several positions in the United States and Europe including as head of Smurfit France.[7][8] He became chief operations officer (COO) of the company's European division in 1999 after having been deputy for a year.[9][10] Smurfit was promoted to COO of the entire company in November 2002.[9]
In September 2015, he was appointed CEO of Smurfit Kappa following the retirement of his predecessor, Gary McGann.[9] Besides, Smurfit is on the boards of the Confederation of European Paper Industries and Ibec, and he is a Mexican honorary consul in Ireland and a member of the European Round Table for Industry.[1][11] Previously, he had also been a board member of Aer Rianta (1996–2001) and C&C Group (2012–2016).[12][13][14]
Personal life[edit]
Smurfit is married to former model and actress Sharon Devlin and has four children.[3][4] One of his hobbies is horse breeding, having been a member of the Irish National Stud's board.[5][15]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Anthony Paul James Smurfit, 55". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Thinking Outside the Box Makes a World of Difference" (PDF). The Scranton Journal. Vol. 28, no. 1. 2006. p. 17. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b Collison, Liam (5 May 2002). "The jet-setting, high-living paper dynasty". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Tony Smurfit". European Round Table for Industry. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d Canniffe, Mary (18 October 1996). "Fathers's Son". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Tony Smurfit to Speak at The University of Scranton President's Breakfast". University of Scranton (Press release). 22 April 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2002.
- ^ O'Dwyer, Peter (2 May 2015). "Smurfit to take helm at packaging group". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ Barrington, Kathleen (23 September 1998). "Tony Smurfit takes No 2 job in Europe". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Newenham, Pamela (1 September 2015). "Smurfit Kappa appoints Tony Smurfit as group CEO". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ Murphy, David (14 January 1999). "Keeping up the family tradition". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Diplomatic List" (PDF). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. August 2020. p. 200. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ Ross, Shane (17 June 2001). "Blarney director joins Aer Rianta". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Aer Rianta Board". The Irish Times. 22 January 1999. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Tony Smurfit retires from C&C Board of Directors". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Conor (31 May 2020). "Private clients connected to National Stud paid €235,000 to use facilities". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 September 2020.