Late Ericsson boss played key role in company’s growth

The death occurred recently of Vincent Daly, the former Managing Director and Chairman of Ericsson in Ireland, who has been credited with playing a crucial role in the growth and development of the company here.

Mr Daly's funeral Mass heard that, without him, "it is unlikely that Ericsson would be in Ireland today, and certainly it would not be the size and scale it is."

The Swedish multinational firm, which currently employs some 1,200 people in Athlone, has been based in the town since the 1970s.

Its Athlone facility started out as a hardware manufacturing operation and then branched into software development.

Mr Daly, who was 83 years of age when he passed away on June 11, led Ericsson's Irish division from 1966 until the early 1990s. A Dublin resident, he would often stay at a house used by Ericsson in Portlick when he was in Athlone on business.

His funeral included a eulogy from fellow businessman and former Athlone resident Gary McGann. Mr McGann, who worked for Ericsson for 13 years before becoming CEO of the Smurfit Kappa Group, spoke about the huge contribution made by a man who had been his boss, mentor, and friend.

"Vincent was a true colossus of Irish business, and an incredible friend," he said.

"It is a matter of fascination to me, and to many others how low-key his profile has been, and how little is known about him outside of his core circles in business and racing.

"He had a major impact on the history and development of Irish industry, but in the quietest possible manner. He invented the concept of low ego, and was the epitome of the silent influencer."

Mr McGann said his friend's "progressive and courageous" approach to business was characterised by great strategic foresight.

"Vincent presided over the introduction to Ericsson in Ireland of the software division, the R&D initiative, the development of international business, and indeed, unbeknownst to many, the calming of major union strife after a 16-week strike which very few other companies would have sustained."

His appointment of key executives to Ericsson in Ireland resulted in "a very skilled Irish team, as measured by any international standards," Mr McGann said.

"He also had incredible relationships at the top of the top of the Ericsson group in Stockholm, and if he wasn't able to bring them working on the Irish team, he took them onto the Irish board and showed them what working hard and playing hard meant. Nobody understood it better.

"Vincent was a patriot, and everything he did for Ericsson had a company, colleague and an Irish dimension to it, and if he could help the underdogs in any way he did so with great grace," his funeral was told.

In addition to his work with Ericsson, Mr Daly was a director of Forbairt, the predecessor of Enterprise Ireland, and supported the development of a number of new start-up companies.

Outside of business, he had a keen interest in National Hunt racing, as an owner, with the majority of his horses being trained by Mouse Morris.

"Vincent was and is the most important influence in my business life and many others, and without him we would be in very different places," concluded Mr McGann in his eulogy.

"In summary, he was a world-class strategist, tenacious, a man of steely determination, dare I say a good friend and a bad enemy. He was dignified to the end, but above all he was a proud husband, father, grandfather, and when all is said and done that's really all that matters."

Mr Daly is survived by his wife Anne, daughters Clodagh, Maureen and Kim, sons Vincent and Stephen, sons in-law, daughters in-law, grandchildren, brothers, sister, relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace.