Kilcullen Business Group completes IMI acquisition

Shane O’Sullivan, chief executive of the Management Institute (IMI), will continue to serve in his position following the deal. 

Kilcullen Business Post Group has completed the acquisition of the Irish Management Institute (IMI) from University College Cork (UCC).

In April last year, the Irish Examiner first reported that UCC were seeking to sell IMI, including its Sandyford campus in south Dublin, in a process that attracted at least two bidders. It was understood at the time that one of the interested parties was Kilcullen Business Post Group.

In April this year, Kilcullen Business Post Group announced that it reached an agreement with UCC to acquire IMI.

Shane O’Sullivan, chief executive of IMI, will continue to serve in his position with the Kilcullen Group saying there are plans in place to invest further in IMI’s senior leadership team.

“Active recruitment is underway to build and grow the existing team. New board appointments are underway, and a refresh of the IMI Council is planned in the months ahead,” the company said.

“UCC will continue to award IMI qualifications for at least two years as the business transitions and develops to grow not just in Ireland but internationally.” 

Enda O’Coineen, publisher and chief executive of the Kilcullen Business Post Group, said “our group of companies bring together the power of news reporting and insights as well as research — this will help to further inform IMI on the trends and emerging areas that leaders need to know and understand”.

Among the companies owned by Kilcullen Business Post Group include the newspaper and website the Business Post, research and polling firm Red C Research, as well as events company iQuest.

It is understood that following the acquisition, the Business Post newspaper will be relocating from its current offices in Ballsbridge in Dublin City to IMI’s premises in Sandyford.

Mr O’Sullivan said this new investment and strategic alignment “provides a strong platform to expand our offering and deepen our impact”.

“The world we operate in is becoming increasingly complex, shaped by global uncertainty and defined by rapid technological change, driven by AI. The need for learning has never been greater and has never had such a return on investment,” he said.

Established in 1953, IMI provides a range of business and management courses including professional diplomas, online courses and short programmes focused on leadership and professional development.

IMI also has premises on Lapps Quay in Cork based out of the UCC Centre for Executive Education.

UCC acquired IMI in 2016 for €20m following several years of negotiations. It said at the time that no public money was used in the transaction.

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