O’Driscoll’s company enjoys €900k in profits thanks to endorsements

ODM Promotions, the business and management consultancy company co-owned by Irish rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll, made a profit of €928,452 in its last financial year, according to newly-filed accounts with the Companies Registration Office.

The profit, for the financial year up to the end of August 2007, was up from a profit of €622,313 for the previous year.

The company — of which Mr O’Driscoll and his doctor father, Frank are directors — has been profitable from its first year of existence in 2001, when it was established mainly to handle the Leinster and Ireland rugby star’s various commercial deals. Back in 2003, it turned a profit of €125,000. However, in the year to the end of August 2004, profits fell to €63,000 due mainly to €245,000 being transferred to Mr O’Driscoll’s pension fund.

Mr O’Driscoll is one of the country’s most marketable sports stars and over the past few years has fronted high-profile sponsorship and marketing deals with the likes of Gillette razors, Lexus cars, O2 and Adidas. While he is still set to earn about €800,000 this year — half of which is likely to come from these types of product endorsements with the remainder coming from his IRFU salary — some commentators are suggesting his best years are behind him and sponsors are now on the lookout for younger role models. This occurred when fellow Irish rugby international, Paul O’Connell was replaced in the energy drink, Powerade’s campaign.