About Us
The Discovery Partnership are a network of experienced, professional consultants in Ireland working with SMEs and other organisations to facilitate positive change and maximise the potential that exists within individuals and teams using world-class customisable programmes and solutions for the benefit of our clients.
Billy O'Connor
The Discovery Partnership Limited was established by Billy O'Connor, a Commerce Graduate from U.C.C. (University College, Cork) who qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1981 with KPMG in their local office in Cork, Republic of Ireland.
Following an early career in banking, financial services and management consultancy, he recognised the need for a specialised consultancy. The focus of The Discovery Partnership was to work in partnership with owners and executives of small to medium-sized companies and organisations to facilitate change and realise the potential that exists within individuals and teams in those businesses.
To date, the business has been built on forming strong relationships with key decision makers and exceeding their expectations with the personal attention and passion to ensure client success. We have built the firm on a foundation of solid values and beliefs. We believe that our first duty is to our clients, to always act in their best interests, we transfer the enthusiasm that we have for our own business to theirs by "painting positive pictures" and opening up client's minds to the possibilities in their business.
We behave as good partners should; we do not take over but empower individuals and teams in client organisations to maximize their own potential and that of their business. We are always true to ourselves. We do not pretend and place the integrity of what we do above all else.
We practice what we preach, have the courage to give and take constructive criticism while maintaining and enhancing the self-esteem of all we deal with.
We are continuously learning and innovating for the benefit of our clients and our consulting partners take 100% responsibility for their personal and professional development.
Robert Grealis
Robert graduated in business from GMIT in 1984 and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Robert has held a number of senior management positions across the private and public sectors in Ireland and overseas and has extensive experience in the Service, Retail, Aviation and Education industries. Robert was Chief Executive of Ireland West Airport Knock where, under his leadership, the company received numerous business development and service awards. He has also held a number of other senior financial and general management positions, including divisional finance director for Bunzl plc, the global support services company.
Ted Brooks
Ted Brooks is a Commerce graduate from UCD and is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Institute. He has 25 years of experience working in the manufacturing industry in Ireland. Following a period working as a financial accountant he held various production management roles and became General Site manager of a large multifunctional site. He served for 10 years as a Global Executive Director of Element Six (formerly De Beers Industrial Diamonds), a multinational manufacturing company. During this time he held specific responsibility for the creation and execution of an international strategic review process of all aspects of the business. He also held global Supply Chain management/ IT/and Legal roles at executive level. He has experience in business acquisition, international relocation and business branding.
Bob Chestnutt
Bob has over 35 years experience in the hotel, food processing, distribution, retailing, education, professional services and property sectors. He held senior roles in finance with the Kerry Group, Clover Meats, H Williams Supermarkets and Irish Country Meats. At EGB, (controlled by the Irish-American philanthropist Chuck Feeney), as Finance Director and Chief Executive, he operated hotels, a third-level school and serviced offices. He lead the purchase and construction of two hotels and helped launch a senior level Executive Search and Selection and HR Consultancies. He later established a company to operate two hotels in Limerick on behalf of private investors.
Bob is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Directors and the Institute of Management Consultants.
Veronica Murphy
Veronica is a Commerce Graduate from University College Cork and subsequently completed an MBA in 1999 in Strategic Management and Strategic HRM. Prior to joining The Discovery Partnership,Veronica was the Principal of Effective Solutions- providing Business & Organisational Consultancy, Training & Development and Mediation Services to private clients and semi state organisations.
She has 22 years combined experience with international and indigenous companies- Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Technology, Retail and Banking sectors. She has held positions at senior management level in Operations, Human Resources, International Supply Chain & Business Information Systems.
Veronica is a practising Accredited Commercial and Civil Mediator with ADR Group U.K.(Alternate Dispute Resolution)& FriaryLaw, Ireland. She facilitates mediations between business partners and employer/employee mediations. She has a practitioner's Employment Law qualification and is an Accredited trainer and facilitator (Irish Institute of Training and Development).
Kieran McSweeney
Kieran MacSweeney is Consulting Partner of the Discovery Partnership and former MD and Senior Vice President of Avocent International. He is also the current President of Limerick Chamber.
He is a native of Limerick City where he grew up in St Patricks Road, Ballysimon. Kieran is married to Annette and has a daughter Michelle who is working in Genworth in Shannon and a son Stephen who is a student in LIT.
Speaking about his role with the Chamber “There is a clear need for better government focus on supporting SME’s. Growing small companies will be essential to generating wealth and jobs in this country in the next few years and the Chamber intends to drive and support initiatives aimed at that sector including increased funding from our banks. Government policy must at all costs support the productive, tax generating sectors of this economy as they seek to cut costs, sustain employment, survive and position themselves for the upturn when it eventually comes.”
Kieran has also started a blog which details his new role, you can find this on www.limerickchamberpresident.wordpress.com
Helen Brooks
Helen is a native of Co.Clare. She is a Commerce graduate of U.C.D. and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1982. She has worked as an accountant in private practice for 25 years, working mainly with sole traders, professionals and the farming community. She has worked as a contract accountant and manager to a community hospital, a bugetary advice agency and on an initiative to get marginalised into the workforce. She is actively involved in the local community through Board memberships of a secondary school and Clare Local Development Company. She is also Treasurer and board member of Swim Ireland, the governing body for swimming across Ireland.
Expertise from practical experience
