Robert Adams
Managing Director

Robert Adams is Managing Director of Focus Capital Partners.

Robert is one of Ireland’s leading Corporate Finance Advisors with a wealth of experience in Debt & Equity Fundraising. He has developed a strong reputation for refinancing business and property based portfolios, working across a broad range of Corporate Finance activities. He has significant commercial experience in undertaking Independent Business Reviews (IBR’s), due diligences, project appraisals, feasibility studies, business planning and strategic advisory. Robert has developed a large client base across a broad range of sectors throughout Ireland through focusing on corporate restructuring and project based client advisory.

Robert has experience in the Hospitality, Real Estate, Aviation and Retail sectors. He is responsible for delivering a wide range of financial modeling assignments through innovative application of modeling techniques. Robert has developed a wide range of experience as lead advisor on major transactions over the past decade. His experience also includes large corporate restructuring together with due diligence, M&A and Business Sale advisory services.

E: radams@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)87 6618452

T: +353 (0)1 9052970

Martin Higgins
Director

Martin is a Director of Focus Capital Partners.

His core specialist skills in operating fast growing businesses have been developed over 25 years as a Managing Director/CEO of commercial trading companies. Martin brings commercial business turnaround, growth and restructuring expertise to Focus Capital Partners. He is currently spearheading a number of significant business growth planning and funding transactions.

Martin has gained a wide range of experience in a broad range of companies, Private, PLC and Multi National. Martin has developed a recognised reputation for business strategy, rapid growth and business turnarounds in the European arena (Ireland/UK/Italy/Denmark). He is known for his commercial, real estate, operations, IT and financial skills. He has led business acquisition, disposal and re-structuring transactions. Martin has strong relationships with a wide range of Private Wealth Funds, Private Equity groups and commercial business leaders.

E: mhiggins@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)87 2990909

T: +353 (0)1 9052970

Brian McGann
Director and Chairman

Brian is a founding shareholder and Chairman of Focus Capital Partners. A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, he has developed his reputation in corporate finance, financial and business strategy and is widely acknowledged as one of the country’s leading business and financial strategists.

Brian has a keen interest in economics and continuously provides strategic and business advice to all sectors particularly in the context of dealing with the current economic and business operating environment. He has significant team management experience in terms of his ability to work with third parties and other professionals in the delivery of business and financial solutions to both the indigenous sector and international trading entities.

Prior to establishing Focus Capital Partners, Brian was a Founding and Managing Partner with BDO in Ireland and was instrumental in the growth of the firm since its inception to becoming a leading top 6 accountancy firm in Ireland. A Bachelor of Science graduate from UCC, he went on to train with KPMG before establishing Brian McGann & Associates in 1984. In 1987, he merged his practice with Simpson Xavier which subsequently become the Irish office of BDO International in 1995. Brian led BDO as Managing Partner until leaving in July 2010 to establish Focus Capital Partners.

In addition to his current role in Focus Capital Partners, Brian holds important board positions with a number of successful Irish enterprises.

E: bmcgann@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)87 2356565

T: +353 (0)61 214400

Alan Kelly
Director

Alan is a Director of Focus Capital Partners

Alan is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience working within start-ups, SMEs and multi-million euro organisations. His expertise is in helping companies build financial, commercial and funding models to optimise their growth opportunities. Having co-founded two start-ups, Alan has gained extensive experience in managing growth, building teams, developing funding strategies, investor relations and building asset value.

Alan began his career in Deloitte where he worked in audit. On completing his contract, Alan then joined a Japanese logistics Company that had just established in Ireland. In this role, he gained valuable experience of working in Japan, China, Russia and multiple European countries.

Alan has worked across a range of sectors in his career. He held FC, MD and Commercial Director roles in some of Ireland’s largest logistics (Kintetsu Ireland) and distribution companies (20:20 Mobile). Alan also headed up the Corporate Finance Department of MKO where he led a number of transactions in the technology space. Alan was then appointed CEO of a tech start-up which sold its SAAS mass customization platform into multiple international markets (revenue growth of €1m to €4m in 2 years). More recently Alan was a Director of Molana, a company with investments in technology, hospitality and property. His focus was on business turn-around for under-performing assets and investment assessment including commercial and financial due diligence. Alan is a Facilitator on Enterprise Ireland’s Founders Forum as part of its High Potential Start Up Program.

E: akelly@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)87 8192370

T: +353 (0)1 6975764

Ray Wheatley
Director

Ray is a Director of Focus Capital Partners.

Ray is a senior property and finance professional with strong relationship, investment and credit skills. Ray has proven experience in the asset management of extensive loan and property portfolios with a focus on restructuring negotiations with borrowers. Ray is an expert in financial structuring for refinancing and development transactions, in addition to the provision of detailed financial modelling and analysis of investment opportunities. Ray has an established track record of successfully managing the execution of high value transactions to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Ray was appointed to lead the Division responsible for the management of Rabobank International’s distressed real estate portfolio within Ireland. This role involved extensive interaction with borrowers and complex debt restructuring. Significant risk management and credit judgment was involved in the role. The overall portfolio under Ray’s management consisted of a wide spectrum of asset types including CRE, SME and Corporate loans.

Ray oversees a number of property funds within Focus that deliver investment opportunities for investors across a number of specific sectors such as Social Housing, Primary Care Centre/Medical and CRE.

E: rwheatley@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)86 3621170

T: +353 (0)1 9052976

Andrew Kenny
Director

Andrew Kenny is a Director of Focus Tax Partners.

Andrew has over 10 years’ experience advising personal and corporate tax clients such as High Net Worth Individuals, Start Up Companies (particularly in the technology and software industries) and sizeable Irish Private Companies. Andrew has extensive knowledge of all areas of Irish taxation and has a particular interest in tax structuring of property transactions and corporate transactions including refinancing, acquisitions, disposals, corporate re-organisations and Management Buy Outs (MBOs). Prior to joining Focus Tax Partners, Andrew was a Partner in Warren & Partners.

E: akenny@focustax.ie

M: +353 (0)86 8408359

Jack O'Keeffe
Director

Jack has an extensive background in banking, funding, investments and corporate finance across a broad range of sectors. He has held senior executive positions in many of the Irish financial institutions both in Ireland and overseas. He has led and executed transactions ranging in size from €5 to €75m and his recent focus has been in the renewable energy and social housing sectors.
Jack has been involved in a number of fundraising in recent years covering both equity and debt. He has an established network across private, family office and institutional investors which enables alternative funding solutions & investment insights to many clients and to efficiently match investors with projects & promoters. He has initiated structured & executed projects in property, social housing, student housing, renewable energy & hospitality sectors. He has extensive knowledge in particular: social housing & renewable energy sectors and has led innovative fundraising transactions for a number of clients across different jurisdictions.

Donal Cantillon
Director

Donal is a Director of Focus Capital Partners.
Donal holds an MBA, a BSc. Finance Degree and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA) with over 15 years of banking and commercial/corporate finance experience working with SMEs, large corporates and semi state bodies.
His expertise is in the areas of client relationship management and commercial finance solutions helping companies to achieve their financing and long term strategic aims. During his career, Donal has worked across and successfully completed many transactions in various sectors including: retail, hospitality & leisure, healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, technology, logistics, renewables, and property.

Donal began his banking career as a relationship manager with Allied Irish Bank (AIB) Corporate Banking and thereafter as a senior relationship manager with Danske Bank prior to joining Bank of Ireland (BOI) in 2015. More recently, Donal was Head of Business Banking Mid-West for BOI where he led a regional team delivering tailored client focused finance solutions to support their various business needs and strategic objectives.
Donal is also a Director with Limerick Chamber of Commerce and is an advocate for business growth and economic development in the Mid-West in order to create a thriving region.
At Focus Capital Partners, Donal leads our Munster business from our offices in Limerick.

E: dcantillon@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)87 177 5550

Johnny Dillon
Associate Director

Johnny is an Associate Director of Focus Capital Partners.

Johnny has 10 years’ experience in corporate finance and advisory roles. Since joining the firm in 2013, Johnny has managed several of Focus’ key transactions. Johnny has managed €150M of refinance transactions across numerous sectors including the property, retail, leisure and food & beverage sectors in recent years. Many of the transactions involved negotiating exits with existing institutions, sourcing and structuring appropriate new debt and equity finance and managing the financing process to completion. Johnny has also advised on a number of valuations, due diligence and restructuring and assignments across a range of sectors.

Prior to joining Focus Capital Partners, Johnny trained as an accountant in the Advisory Department of Grant Thornton in Dublin where he became Assistant Manager. Johnny worked on several successful corporate finance & restructuring projects along with a number of formal insolvency assignments involving the work-out and sale of over-leveraged real estate portfolios. Johnny was also seconded to Ulster Bank from Grant Thornton for a period of 9 months. Johnny is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Studies Degree (Accounting & Finance major) from University of Limerick.

E: jdillon@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)86 3205946

T: +353 (0)1 9052971

Brian Barrett
Associate Director

Brian is an Associate Director of Focus Capital Partners.

Brian holds a MBA and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with over 13 years of strategic and commercial experience working with SMEs, large corporates and semi state bodies. His expertise is in the areas of helping companies to achieve their strategic ambitions and prepare for significant value events. Brian is a leading corporate finance advisor, who provides a broad range of activities from debt advisory, valuations, due diligence, strategic planning, along with buy / sell side services. During his career Brian has worked across and successfully completed many transactions in sectors including: retail, technology, food & beverage, agriculture, logistics, banking, energy, and leisure.

Brian began his career with State Street Bank before moving to Bank of Ireland where he spent 13 years. During his time with Bank of Ireland, Brian spent almost 7 years with Bank of Ireland’s boutique corporate finance division, IBI Corporate finance. Brian subsequently joined EY’s Transaction Advisory Services business in Cork where he spent 6 years.

E: bbarrett@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0)87 264 9827

Patrick Dooley
Associate Director

Patrick is an Associate Director of Focus Capital Partners.

Patrick is a Chartered Accountant, holds a B.A. in Accounting & Finance from Dublin City University and an MSc in Accounting from Dublin Institute of Technology.

Patrick has a broad range of corporate finance experience with particular emphasis on the SMEs sector. He has extensive experience in providing strategic advice to leading Irish companies and managing sale processes to successfully achieve exit plans and value events. Patrick can provide a varied range of advisory services from mergers & acquisitions, debt advisory, fundraising, due diligence and valuations. Throughout his career Patrick has successfully completed many transactions across a broad range of sectors including: retail, food & beverage, healthcare, engineering and technology.

Patrick began his career with Crowe Ireland before moving to EY where he specialised in their transaction advisory team. Patrick subsequently joined PKF Corporate Finance in Dublin where he spent over 2 years.

E: pdooley@focuscapital.ie

T:+353 (01) 905 2977

Owen Hackett
Associate Director

Owen joined Focus Capital Partners in 2017. Owen is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years’ experience working in Audit, Recovery, and Corporate Finance. His main areas of expertise are in M&A, equity fundraising, transaction advisory services, and corporate restructuring. He has extensive experience in providing strategic advice to leading Irish corporates and project managing due diligence and sales processes.

Owen’s early career in audit saw him gain significant experience across a range of sectors including manufacturing, logistics, distribution, retail, technology, healthcare and property.

Owen specialised in transaction services including due diligence, company valuations, IBR’s , strategic option reviews, as well as managing the successful execution of several sales processes. Owen has gained significant exposure to various industries while working in corporate finance including manufacturing, pharmacy, leisure & hospitality, waste management, retail, software, and property.

Owen graduated from University College Dublin with a Batchelor of Commerce and Irish degree in 2006. His passion for the Irish language lead to him teaching Irish to both leaving and junior certificate students until he began his accountancy career with Deloitte and Touche in 2008. On completing his training contract Owen worked briefly with the auditor and comptroller general on a number of high-profile government audits before joining Grant Thornton in 2013.

E: ohackett@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0) 86 870 7015

T: +353 (0) 1 697 5762

Barry Madden
Associate Director

Barry Madden is an Associate Director in Focus Capital Partners. Barry joined Focus Capital in 2013 and brings a broad range of corporate finance experience to the Focus Team. Areas of specialty for Barry include sourcing external capital through debt and equity, corporate & personal debt restructuring (often as part of negotiating exits with existing institutions), project management and M&A advisory. This ranges across various industries including retail & leisure, renewables, healthcare, logistics and property (refinances, acquisitions & development). Barry also has extensive experience in the areas of financial modelling and valuations, independent business reviews & reporting, financial planning & analysis and assistance in the development of Business Plans.

Barry’s day to day activities primarily involves working as part of a project driven corporate finance team in Focus. This involves providing a bespoke corporate finance and broad-based advisory service to clients across a large sectoral range. Barry believes that the key elements of achieving successful project completion include building and managing strong working relationships with all stakeholders, together with ensuring that key deliverables and project timelines are met.

Prior to joining Focus Capital, Barry spent 4 years in the assurance department of PwC. This included two winter rotations in PwC San Francisco, where he was assigned to the PCS (Private Company Services) Department. Barry’s time in PwC involved with a wide range of clients including multinational medical devices & pharmaceutical distributors, agricultural companies and various Irish SME’s.

Barry is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Studies Degree (Accounting & Finance major) from the University of Limerick.

E: bmadden@focuscapital.ie

M: +353 (0) 85 718 8307

T: +353 (0) 1 905 2978

David Brophy
Associate Director

David is an Associate Director in Focus Tax Partners.

David has over 6 years’ experience advising on corporate and personal tax matters for a wide variety of clients, including High Net Worth Individuals, estates, and domestic and multinational companies.
David has a detailed and practical understanding of all areas of Irish taxation, with a particular interest in tax planning for corporates and shareholders on re-organisations, pre-sale tax structuring, Management Buy Outs (MBOs) and debt refinancing. He also has extensive experience in succession planning.

David has advised clients across a broad range of industries, including technology and software, hospitality and leisure, education, and property, finding the right balance between tax efficient solutions and helping clients achieve their personal or commercial objectives