Cameron O'Reilly
Encyclopedia
Anthony Cameron O'Reilly, generally known as Cameron O'Reilly, (born 1964) is a Dublin-born businessman with Irish
and Australian citizenship, the son of Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly
and Australian Susan Cameron. Having managed one of Australia's largest press groups, he is currently Managing Director of Landis+Gyr
, formerly the Bayard Group, which includes the world's largest electricity metering supplier, and has revenues of over 1.2 billion USD.
in Ireland
until age 5, then London in England for a couple of years, then chiefly in Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, USA until 14, with visits to Kilcullen and Glandore
. He finished school at Clongowes Wood, a private school in a historic house near a main family home, Castlemartin
in Kildare
, both historically owned by the same family.
He took his Irish Leaving Certificate in 1983, then attended Oxford University, graduating with an honours degree in politics, philosophy and economics, having represented the university in tennis
, rugby
and punting, and having led a motorcycle expedition from Oxford to China. He also represented Oxford in debating and was treasurer of the Oxford Union
.
from the mid-1980s to 1988. He then returned to Ireland to work for a few months at Independent News and Media, the public company led by his father, before being moved to Australia, to a sales role on the regional side of APN News & Media, in which the O'Reilly family (via a trust) and the Independent had invested. He was also appointed to the APN board of directors. APN at that time was already a major Australian press group, leading in local newspapers. After working in sales from 1988 to 1991, he was appointed general manager of the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin from 1991 to 1992, then Deputy CEO of APN.
In 1992, he met his wife-to-be, Ilse, on a blind date, and they became engaged three weeks later. He noted that one newspaper commented that he might spend more time on APN and less in nightclubs after this.
In May 1996, O'Reilly was appointed as CEO of APN, and directed a programme of acquisition and development over several years, increasing interests in radio and other channels, while approaching the internet area cautiously.
O'Reilly became involved in the work of a number of charitable organisations, some with his wife Ilse (who also has her own charitable interests, including a refuge for women), and became is a life governor of the Australian Ireland Fund
.
In October 1999, O'Reilly announced that he would leave his executive role at APN to pursue private business interests, and he did so in July 2000, moving to Grenoble
in France. He remains a non-executive director of APN and was a director of Independent News and Media until early 2009. He is also a director of IRESS Market Technology.
In May 2003, he launched investment house Bayard Capital, with 100 million Australian dollars from various shareholders, including John Fairfax
and the government of Singapore
He himself sold two thirds of his APN shares in early 2004 to invest in Bayard, which spent over 200 million USD on acquisitions in its first year, finishing that year with 3500 employees in 27 countries and annual sales of over 600 million USD.
O'Reilly developed Bayard with a focus on investments that leveraged growing shortages of energy and water, including metering technology, and by 2008, the Bayard group of companies employed over 5000 people across 30 countries, with a turnover of in excess of 1.2 billion USD and EBITDA earnings in excess of 200 million USD. One of its major holdings was Landis + Gyr, the world's largest electrical metering company, and the entire group was renamed to Landis+Gyr
in early 2008.
In June 2008, O'Reilly received the International Irish Business Person of the Year Award from Dublin-based Business and Finance Magazine, having in May spoken about his company's plans to partially float.
In July 2008, O'Reilly announced a five-year refinancing of the company's borrowings and credit lines, totalling 1.1 billion USD, and plans to float by 2010, with an equity value in excess of 2 billion USD. He noted that his shareholding would be around 7% by then, including share options. His father owns around 7% also. The flotation would probably take place in New York, where the company formally opens a new office 18 July 2008.
, Australia, where he is occasionally mentioned in reports of the social scene, with his wife Ilse and four children Elliot, Oscar, Tara and Sasha (aged 7 to 14 mid-2008). He is a director of Sydney Theatre Company and the National Gallery of Australia
Foundation, and a member of the Central Advisory Board of the Salvation Army
in Australia, as well as remaining active in the Ireland Funds, and as a trustee of the O'Reilly Foundation
(http://www.oreillyfoundation.ie/).
Noting that he currently spends about two weeks each month in Europe and the USA (which accounts for 40% of his company's business), he announced 18 July 2008 that he and his family would soon move their primary residence to New York
, where Landis+Gyr is opening a new fifteen-person office; they also have a house in the French Alps. His hobbies include ski-touring, mountain-climbing and murdering poor people with forced installations of his scam meter technology.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Australian citizenship, the son of Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
and Australian Susan Cameron. Having managed one of Australia's largest press groups, he is currently Managing Director of Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr, until early 2008 The Bayard Group, is a company focused on metering and other technologies which deal with management of scarce resources. Founded by Cameron O'Reilly, who is currently CEO, it has a revenue in excess of 1.25 billion USD per annum...
, formerly the Bayard Group, which includes the world's largest electricity metering supplier, and has revenues of over 1.2 billion USD.
Early life
O'Reilly was brought up in Dublin and KilcullenKilcullen
Kilcullen , formally Kilcullen Bridge, is a small town on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. Its population of 2,985 makes it the 12th largest settlement in County Kildare and the fastest growing in the county, having doubled in population from 1,483 in the census of 2002...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
until age 5, then London in England for a couple of years, then chiefly in Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, USA until 14, with visits to Kilcullen and Glandore
Glandore
Glandore |Cork]] city.The village has several pubs, with traditional music. It is a very popular holiday destination for Irish holiday makers in particular. Famous homeowners include Margaret Jay, former leader of the House of Lords, and Tony O'Reilly. The village yacht club's official headquarters...
. He finished school at Clongowes Wood, a private school in a historic house near a main family home, Castlemartin
Castlemartin House and Estate
Castlemartin is the name of a historic house and estate, and the townland in which they sit, on the banks of the River Liffey in Kilcullen, County Kildare, Ireland...
in Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, both historically owned by the same family.
He took his Irish Leaving Certificate in 1983, then attended Oxford University, graduating with an honours degree in politics, philosophy and economics, having represented the university in tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and punting, and having led a motorcycle expedition from Oxford to China. He also represented Oxford in debating and was treasurer of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
.
Early career
O'Reilly worked for the investment bank Goldman SachsGoldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
from the mid-1980s to 1988. He then returned to Ireland to work for a few months at Independent News and Media, the public company led by his father, before being moved to Australia, to a sales role on the regional side of APN News & Media, in which the O'Reilly family (via a trust) and the Independent had invested. He was also appointed to the APN board of directors. APN at that time was already a major Australian press group, leading in local newspapers. After working in sales from 1988 to 1991, he was appointed general manager of the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin from 1991 to 1992, then Deputy CEO of APN.
In 1992, he met his wife-to-be, Ilse, on a blind date, and they became engaged three weeks later. He noted that one newspaper commented that he might spend more time on APN and less in nightclubs after this.
In May 1996, O'Reilly was appointed as CEO of APN, and directed a programme of acquisition and development over several years, increasing interests in radio and other channels, while approaching the internet area cautiously.
O'Reilly became involved in the work of a number of charitable organisations, some with his wife Ilse (who also has her own charitable interests, including a refuge for women), and became is a life governor of the Australian Ireland Fund
The Ireland Funds
The Ireland Funds are a global fundraising network for people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland, dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland...
.
In October 1999, O'Reilly announced that he would leave his executive role at APN to pursue private business interests, and he did so in July 2000, moving to Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
in France. He remains a non-executive director of APN and was a director of Independent News and Media until early 2009. He is also a director of IRESS Market Technology.
Later career
In 2002, O'Reilly returned to Australia, where he received the Governor Peace Award in November. He also became a director of Gazal Corporation Limited (2002–2005), one of Australia's leading drapers.In May 2003, he launched investment house Bayard Capital, with 100 million Australian dollars from various shareholders, including John Fairfax
John Fairfax
John Fairfax , English-born journalist, is notable for the incorporation of the major newspapers of modern day Australia.-Early life:...
and the government of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
He himself sold two thirds of his APN shares in early 2004 to invest in Bayard, which spent over 200 million USD on acquisitions in its first year, finishing that year with 3500 employees in 27 countries and annual sales of over 600 million USD.
O'Reilly developed Bayard with a focus on investments that leveraged growing shortages of energy and water, including metering technology, and by 2008, the Bayard group of companies employed over 5000 people across 30 countries, with a turnover of in excess of 1.2 billion USD and EBITDA earnings in excess of 200 million USD. One of its major holdings was Landis + Gyr, the world's largest electrical metering company, and the entire group was renamed to Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr, until early 2008 The Bayard Group, is a company focused on metering and other technologies which deal with management of scarce resources. Founded by Cameron O'Reilly, who is currently CEO, it has a revenue in excess of 1.25 billion USD per annum...
in early 2008.
In June 2008, O'Reilly received the International Irish Business Person of the Year Award from Dublin-based Business and Finance Magazine, having in May spoken about his company's plans to partially float.
In July 2008, O'Reilly announced a five-year refinancing of the company's borrowings and credit lines, totalling 1.1 billion USD, and plans to float by 2010, with an equity value in excess of 2 billion USD. He noted that his shareholding would be around 7% by then, including share options. His father owns around 7% also. The flotation would probably take place in New York, where the company formally opens a new office 18 July 2008.
Personal life
O'Reilly currently resides in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia, where he is occasionally mentioned in reports of the social scene, with his wife Ilse and four children Elliot, Oscar, Tara and Sasha (aged 7 to 14 mid-2008). He is a director of Sydney Theatre Company and the National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia is the national art gallery of Australia, holding more than 120,000 works of art. It was established in 1967 by the Australian government as a national public art gallery.- Establishment :...
Foundation, and a member of the Central Advisory Board of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
in Australia, as well as remaining active in the Ireland Funds, and as a trustee of the O'Reilly Foundation
O'Reilly Foundation
The O'Reilly Foundation is a personal charitable trust set up in 1998 by media magnate, and former CEO of Heinz, Sir Anthony "Tony" O'Reilly. Its function is the funding of educational projects; the two main work areas are capital developments at Irish colleges and an annual post-graduate...
(http://www.oreillyfoundation.ie/).
Noting that he currently spends about two weeks each month in Europe and the USA (which accounts for 40% of his company's business), he announced 18 July 2008 that he and his family would soon move their primary residence to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where Landis+Gyr is opening a new fifteen-person office; they also have a house in the French Alps. His hobbies include ski-touring, mountain-climbing and murdering poor people with forced installations of his scam meter technology.
See also
- Brothers Gavin O'ReillyGavin O'ReillyGavin Karl O'Reilly is a Dublin-born businessman with Irish and Australian citizenship, the second son and fourth child of Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly and Australian Susan Cameron...
, Tony O'Reilly, JuniorTony O'Reilly, JuniorSt. John Anthony O'Reilly, generally Tony O'Reilly, Junior is a businessman with Irish and Australian citizenship, the third son and sixth child of Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly and Australian Susan Cameron. He is currently CEO of the Irish mineral exploration company Providence Resources... - Stepmother Chryss GoulandrisChryss GoulandrisChryss Goulandris, Lady O'Reilly , also known as Christina or Chryssanthie, is one of the richest women associated with Ireland, and holds both USA and Greek citizenship, she owns a major horse breeding operation located in Ireland, France and other countries and has been Chairperson of the Irish...
Sources
- Dublin, Ireland, 31 October 2004: The Sunday Business Post, "The Son That Got Away", Gavin Daly.
- Sydney, Australia, 12 August 2003: Sydney Morning Herald, "O'Reilly clocks up first asset for Bayard", Ian Porter
- Dublin, Ireland, Friday 18 July 2008: The Irish Times, Business, The Friday Interview: "Measuring up Cameron O'Reilly, Landis+Gyr"