Brian Kearney, Co-Founder PM Group, RIP
It was with great sadness that we announced the death of Brian Kearney, co-founder of PM Group, on 31st May 2023.
Brian served as Chief Executive and later as Executive Chairman of PM Group until he retired in 2003.
Paying tribute to Brian, Dave Murphy, CEO said: “He was a tremendous leader and is fondly remembered by all that worked with him. Much of the legacy of what Brian put in place remains part of PM Group today. He was a very strong promoter of the culture and values that are such a big part of PM Group and he was tremendously proud of the employee owned company he helped to create.”
A UCD electrical engineering graduate with a Masters in Industrial Engineering, Brian originally worked for Irish Cement (later to become part of CRH plc.). Brian co-founded PM Group in 1973 with Jim Walsh and took over the role of Chief Executive in 1988. He spearheaded a key alliance with the large international Engineering Contractor, Foster Wheeler, in the late 1980’s and was responsible for the introduction of Non-Executive Directors on the PM Group Board. These key initiatives gave the Company a system of corporate governance that was second to none.
Brian played a leading role in some of PM Group’s largest projects and led a number of transformative programmes which underpinned the growth and development of the company. In 2000, Brian stood down as CEO handing the reins to Pat McGrath. He remained as Executive Chairman of the company until his retirement in 2003 at which point PM Group had risen to over 1,000 people.
Outside of work, Brian was also very active and was a very keen golfer and served as Captain of Royal Dublin GC in 1995. He served as President of Engineers Ireland in 2002-2003 and was a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering. Brian and his late wife Patricia were also very well known in horse racing circles. They owned the great Moscow Flyer, trained by Jessica Harrington, which won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in 2003 and 2004 among many other races. He was also very involved with his alma mater Belvedere College and his local parish in Sutton.
Beloved husband of the late Patricia, Brian’s loss is deeply regretted by his children, Peter, Conor, Emer and Lise, his nephew John Paul, daughters and sons-in- law, grandchildren and wide circle of friends and colleagues in PM Group, Royal Dublin Golf Club, Belvedere College and St. Finian’s Parish Committee, Sutton.
May he Rest in Peace