Alan Crosbie appointed to Family Business Centre

The appointment of Alan Crosbie, chairman of Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd, as an Adjunct Professor in the John C. Kelleher Family Business Centre will be announced tonight at the annual Town and Gown event in UCC.

“I am very pleased that Alan Crosbie has agreed to take up the appointment as Adjunct Professor for the John C. Kelleher Family Business Centre. His expertise and experience will complement the existing skills within the centre, and will help us in developing our work with family businesses throughout the country,” said Dr. Joan Buckley, director of the John C. Kelleher Family Business Centre.

Mr Crosbie has been involved with the family business initiative in UCC since the inception of the UCC Family Business Forum in 2001, and has acted as chairman of the UCC Family Business Partnership Board since 2003.

He combines his personal intimate experience of family business life with knowledge gained through research for his book and mentoring other family businesses. His book has been reprinted in Russia, India and Pakistan and he has lectured on family business in a number of countries.

According to Dr. Buckley: “Adjunct appointments such as this are to recognise and encourage the significant contributions to the university of members of the external community, and Alan certainly merits such recognition.

"Alan has just finished a period as the Chairman of Down Syndrome Ireland, where he worked tirelessly and with great effect. I am pleased that we will now benefit from Alan’s energy and knowledge and am sure that he will make a very significant contribution to the work of the family business centre.”

Mr Crosbie joined the board of Examiner Publications (Cork) in 1980 and worked as sales manager. Later, distribution and business development were added to his portfolio. In 1993, he took over as chief executive officer of Examiner Publications (Cork) Ltd.

In 2001, Alan stepped down from Examiner Publications (Cork) Ltd., and became chairman of Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd., a position he still holds.

Among the positions he holds, or has held, are:

* Vice President of the European Newspaper Publishers Association

* President of Down Syndrome Ireland

* Director of Press Association (London)

* Chairman of the Press Association (Ireland)

* Chairman of Independent Radio Sales Ltd.

* Director of many Thomas Crosbie Holdings subsidiaries including Examiner Publications (Cork) Ltd and the Sunday Business Post.

His duties as adjunct professor will include delivering guest lectures and seminars, as well as contributing to the development of the research agenda of the family business centre.