Paddy Galvin, the former Chief Executive of Waterford Crystal and the Guinness Brewery, has died at the age of 90.
Mr. Galvin joined Waterford Crystal as the company's chief executive in 1989, and went on to spearhead the rationalisation of the company’s three crystal factories that ultimately saw 1,800 workers lose their jobs.
The re-structuring period at Waterford Crystal included an infamous 14-week strike period at the beginning of the 1990s when the then workforce refused to accept the cutbacks and wage cuts that Mr.Galvin and an investment group, which was headed by Sir Anthony O’Reilly felt were 'essential' if Waterford Crystal was to survive in the face of cheaper competition.
Galvin retired in 1996 and was credited with transforming Waterford Crystal “from a production-driven entity to a profitable market-led, consumer-focused company” upon that occasion.
In an interview a number of years ago, Mr. Galvin described the strike period at Waterford Crystal as a 'dog-rough' time.
“For 3½ to four years, it was dog-rough; it was difficult for all in a trying and testing period.”
Mr. Galvin also served as the first Catholic ever to be appointed to the board of Guinness. His other roles saw him serve as Chairman of PV Doyle Holdings and as a director of Bank of Ireland, Greencore and Irish Shell.
Paddy Galvin is survived by his four children, Imelda, Regina, Orla and Grant.
He will be laid to rest in Dundrum on Friday.
