HAVING started work a humble joiner plying his trade around Newry, Brian McConville now oversees a multi-million pound empire which is changing the face of the world's cruise industry.
His MJM Group, set up 35 years ago and which last year had sales the thick end of £50 million, is now one of the world’s leading marine outfitting businesses, and last year fitted-out the Azamara Pursuit for Royal Caribbean at Harland & Wolff, the largest project of its kind in Belfast for decades.
And yesterday he attributed the stellar success of the marine to its people.
“Our team is the best in the world. We don’t just say that, our customers do. This comes down to our company values, which include having a ‘can-do’ attitude. We work together as a team to deliver and to make things happen,” he said.
Mr McConville (57), now chairman of MJM Group, was delivering the keynote address at the PKF-FPM annual leadership talk at te Belfast campus of Ulster University, held as part of the 2019 Management Month and in association with the UU Business School.
In conversation with broadcaster Gerry Kelly, Brian gave a detailed overview of his career and talked about his charity work and love of horses.
Today MJM Marine has offices in Newry, Southampton and Poland and employs more than 600 people.
The McConville family also own an extensive property portfolio which includes Damolly Retail Park in Newry, Galwally House and Drumkeen Retail Park in Belfast; Clarence Chambers and Pearl Assurance House in Belfast city centre, and a range of other commercial, retail and residential properties.
PKF-FPM managing director Feargal McCormack heralded Brian’s entrepreneurial journey as an inspiration to everyone in business.
“Brian has shared his business experience most generously and demonstrated how perseverance and sheer determination are the sure routes to success," he said.
“The evolution of his company has been remarkable and testament to his personal commitment to deliver both quality of service and value for money to his customers large and small across four continents.”
Professor Mark Durkin, executive dean of the Ulster University Business School, said: “We were delighted to work with Professor Feargal McCormack and his team at PKF-FPM in organising the now very well established annual leadership talk.
“As a business school that is committed to stimulating entrepreneurial thinking and driving innovative approaches to doing business, it is invaluable to hear from leaders who have practical and real experience.
“Brian demonstrated that entrepreneurial flair in his talk and it was an honour to welcome such a successful business figure to share with us his thoughts on leadership.”
