BRING in Niall FitzGerald, is the cry from several commentators, after the IMF went deep into discussions with the Government on a rescue package running into tens of billions of euro.
With the country experiencing turbulent times, there is a growing volume of support for business people of stature to be invited on board to steady the ship.
One name put forward was Niall FitzGerald.
FitzGerald has the right pedigree, former chairman of the giant Unilever Group, nowadays with Reuters Press Agency, and holder of a host of other high-profile positions.
He was advisor to John Major and his Chancellor of the Exchequer-and a firm supporter of Chelsea Football Club, where he once invited this writer to join him at a game.
Born in Sligo, he came to live in Limerick at a young age.
The family lived in Thomondgate, across the road from St Munchin’s Church.
FitzGerald, who attended St Munchin’s College, took it upon himself, as a teenager, to form Riverside schoolboy soccer club.
Riverside fielded teams in underage grades and were highly successful.
He was regularly seen cycling from Thomondgate to Caledonian Park, with his teams in town.
Playing members included the late Tony Meaney and Joe Bourke, who went on to win honours with Limerick AFC.
On leaving school, he took up a position with a travel agency and later pursued his studies at UCD.
Niall FitzGerald, who has family still living in the Limerick/Clare area, became the chairman of Reuters in October 2004, having spent over 30 years with Unilever in a variety of commercial and financial jobs in several countries.
In the early 1980’s he became CEO of Unilever’s foods business in South Africa and returned to London as group treasurer.
In 1987, he joined the Boards of Unilever PLC and Unilever NV until his appointment as chairman and CEO in 1996.
He subsequently joined the Board of Reuters as a non-executive director in 2003, becoming chairman in 2004.
FitzGerald was created an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002.
Surely, with such a background he ticks all the right boxes to be invited to ride into town with a rescue package.
