Michael O'Leary — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Group CEO of Ryanair, an Irish low-cost airline.
Developed Ryanair's low-cost model, inspired by Southwest Airlines, focusing on ancillary revenue.
Served as Chief Financial Officer of Ryanair starting in 1988 before becoming CEO in 1994.
Graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in business and economics.

Biography

Michael O'Leary is an Irish businessman and the Group CEO of Ryanair, a position he has held since 1994. Born in Castlemagner, County Cork, in 1961, he studied business and economics at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1982. He began his career as a trainee with Stokes Kennedy Crowley (later KPMG), where he specialized in the Irish tax system. After two years, he established profitable newsagents in Dublin.