Paddy McNally
- Businessman
- racing driver
- journalist
Patrick Sean McNally (born 20 December 1937)[2] is an Irish businessman and former journalist. He was the founder and chief executive of Allsport Management, a Swiss-based company which controlled Formula One advertising and hospitality for the Paddock Club.[3]
Early life
McNally was born on 20 December 1937[2] in Stranorlar, County Donegal, Ireland.[1][4][5] He grew up on a farm in County Monaghan[6] and initially worked in London as a Grand Prix reporter.[7]
Career
Beginning his career as a motorsports journalist for Autosport magazine, McNally was also involved in sports car racing events in the 1960s. He then moved to Switzerland and worked for Philip Morris's Marlboro as a sponsorship consultant.[7] Later, he was a driver manager of Niki Lauda and James Hunt respectively.[5]
McNally began working with Bernie Ecclestone in the late 1970s.[7] In 1984, he founded Allsport Management SA, a company which provided corporate hospitality and trackside advertising for Formula One events.[8] Based in Geneva, Allsport and related Allsopp Parker & Marsh (APM), registered in Ireland,[9] owned the trackside advertising rights at Formula One circuits and operated the Formula One Paddock Club, the Grand Prix hospitality provider.[5]
In 2006, he sold Allsport Management to CVC for $334 million.[4][10]
Personal life
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, McNally has a net worth of £510 million.[11]
McNally dated Sarah, Duchess of York.[12][13][14] The pair remain close friends.[15] He has homes in the Côte d'Azur and Switzerland, notably chalets in Verbier.[16][17] He also owns Warneford Place, Wiltshire, the former home of Ian Fleming. In 2004, the property was burgled.[18]
References
- ^ a b "Irish Rich List 2019: profiles 18-50, featuring U2". The Sunday Times. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Patrick McNally | BRDC Members | British Racing Drivers' Club". www.brdc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Saward, Joe (4 January 2000). "The Paddock Club". GrandPrix.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2006.
- ^ a b "Paddy McNally". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ a b c "Ireland's Rich List: 41-50". Independent.ie. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ McNally, Peter (2013). The Time of My Life. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-909304-59-8.
- ^ a b c "Paddy McNally". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Paddy McNally". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Irish firm linked to F1 made profits of ?137k". Independent.ie. 30 October 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Paddy McNally". Independent.ie. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "2014 Sunday Times Rich List reveals wealthiest Brits in motoring". Driving.co.uk from The Sunday Times. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Fergie: Bedlam Over the Bride". The Washington Post. 1986.
- ^ Cochrane, Kira (24 May 2010). "Why I feel sorry for Sarah Ferguson". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "McNally tops Donegal Rich List with €517m". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Maguire, Stephen (8 February 2011). "The Donegal millionaire who is still cutting a dash with royalty". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "The Beginnings of a Royal Catfight? Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson's Fraught Relationship". Vanity Fair. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Walsh, Niamh (16 January 2022). "Sarah Ferguson Comforted By Old Irish Flame On Ski Holiday". Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Daring raid on tycoon's home". Wiltshire Gazette & Herald. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 17 August 2020.