About Will
Will McKee is one of Ireland’s most experienced board directors, and is chairman or non-executive director of a number of leading international companies.
Will's book "STAR - Leadership Behaviours for Stellar SME Growth" is drawn from his wide international experience of working with companies and their leaders. STAR describes best-practice approaches using real-life examples and demonstrates how you can measure your own competence across a range of critical behaviours. SMEs led by leaders who practise the behaviours of STAR leadership will deliver stellar growth: delivering reward to the workforce, shareholders, leadership team, the SME leader and all stakeholders in the enterprise. To order a copy, visit Oaktree Press. Read a review of STAR from the Irish Examiner here. |  |
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His competence comes from a strong marketing and commercial background with a rigorous business education. This includes completion of the Harvard Business School OPM Program, as well as Corporate Governance programmes at HBS and IMD Lausanne.
The first ten years of Will’s working life from 1966 were spent as an international marketing executive in the textiles industry. He worked in the North American, Asian and European markets. Much of his business experience and knowledge has been directly applied to helping companies to trade internationally.
Will has hands on experience of running international businesses in the following sectors: medical devices, food, engineering, giftware, business consulting, and fashion.
Will is Chairman of Linkubator Ltd, a business development and sales training consulting company. Linkubator also works in support of Government FDI strategy by attracting SMEs in the Life Sciences sector in the USA to visit Ireland, with a view to establishing their European base in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. Visit the Linkubator website for more information.
Throughout his business life, Will has been heavily involved in various facets of corporate finance and venture capital, and has raised capital for numerous businesses.
The major companies which have featured strongly in his business career include:
- Belleek Pottery
- Moygashel
- Moy Park
- Shell
- Leckpatrick
- Jefferson Smurfit Group
- Mivan Group
- Paul Costelloe International
- Valpar International
Past public service and voluntary appointments include:
- LEDU
- Northern Ireland Innovation Programme
- NI Bioscience and Technology Institute
- NI Higher Education Council
He currently chairs the joint advisory board in NI for the Institute of Leadership and Management, and the City and Guilds of London, where he is also a council member.
Will also chaired the Entrepreneurs' Forum - a private sector initiative working in support of Invest NI's entrepreneurship campaign.
In July 2002, Will was awarded a Special Certificate from His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, in recognition of his outstanding personal achievement in business education and training.
Follow Will's Blog here.