Overview

A Life Worth Living tells the story of Michael Smurfit and the company he built. From humble beginnings, through years of hard work, it documents the Smurfit Group's seemingly inexorable growth, the challenges faced and overcome, and the many deals that continually doubled the size of the business every three or four years. It shows Michael's 'logical opportunism' in action, and explains how the Smurfit culture and systems provided a world-beatingcompetitive advantage. Born in St Helens, Lancashire in August 1936, Michael Smurfit joined his father's business, Jefferson Smurfit & Sons Ltd. in Dublin, straight from school to learn the papermaking business 'from the bottom up'. Two years after the company floated on the Irish Stock Exchange, Michael and his brother Jeff became Joint Managing Directors, as Jefferson Senior took on the role of Chairman and Chief Executive. Then followed 30 years of acquisitions, as the Jefferson Smurfit Group became Ireland's first multinational company and one of the largest paper and packaging companies in the world. In 2002, Michael took the Smurfit Group private, retiring as CEO but remaining Chairman. In this role, he steered a merger with Kappa Packaging BV, which successfully refloated in 2007 as Smurfit Kappa Group. Michael's life outside Smurfit - his chairmanship of the Racing Board and of Telecom Éireann; his interest in horseracing; his ownership of The K Club and the triumph that was the Ryder Cup 2006 - all feature, alongside his love and commitment to his family. Truly, a life worth living.

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9781781191606

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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHYA Life Worth Living A Life Worth Living A LIFE WORTH LIVING is a page-turner - a fascinating story, just the present for one's favourite entrepreneur. The Market, Enterprise Ireland, Summer 2014 He is undoubtedly one of the greatest business leaders in Irish history, a superb deal-maker who has improved the lives of millions. - Smurfit provides chapter and verse on how he built up Ireland's first-ever multinational corporation. Andrew Lynch, The Sunday Business Post, 4 May 2014 - it should be required reading for any aspiring young business man or woman in Ireland. Sean Farrell, Irish Independent, 5 April 2014 The book gives many insights into the growth of the Smurfit Group's empire over the years, its roots, its key move into the US, where it was taken private, and the subsequent float as Smurfit Kappa. Ex Post Facto, The Sunday Business Post, 6 April 2014 In the book, he shows his 'logical opportunism' in action and explains how the Smurfit culture and systems provided a world-beating competitive advantage. Social & Personal, May 2014 Was Michael Smurfit Ireland's greatest businessman of the last century? There are certainly very few like him, or even close. Tom Lyons, The Irish Times, 3 April 2014

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