Cowen back in business with a consultancy f irm of his own
IF your business needs a bit of guidance, you could soon be able to seek advice from an unlikely source – former taoiseach Brian Cowen.
It emerged yesterday that Mr Cowen may be set to re-join the workforce with a new career as a management consultant.
Documents lodged with the Company Registration Office in September show the retired politician intends to launch a new business based out of his Co. Offaly home. The former Fianna Fáil leader and his wife Mary are both registered as directors of the newlyestablished Cowen Consulting.
The exact nature of the firm is unclear but a registration document states it will offer ‘business and management
‘He’s respected down here’
consultancy activities’. And little is known about the new venture in Mr Cowen’s native Tullamore.
‘It’s difficult to set up any new business at the moment,’ a local councillor said. ‘No matter what business you go in to, it’s tough enough but I suppose it’s good to see him doing something. He’s still young and can move on. It would be good for him,’ he added.
If the venture goes ahead it would give Mr Cowen, who enjoys a pension in excess of €140,000, the chance to put his exclusive management course from Stanford University to good use.
On leaving politics, the 53-year- old up- skilled by attending the €47,000, six-week ‘executive education’ course i n the prestigious San Francisco college last year. The course is designed for ‘seasoned executives with at least 12 to 15 years of management experience and strategic responsibilities at the company or country-wide level’, according to the university’s website.
The tuition fee covered accommodation, all meals, course materials and an Apple iPad, and the program included lectures from former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.
Mr Cowen is following the lead of former cabinet colleagues who also went in to the consultancy field. Former transport minister Noel Dempsey registered a public affairs consultancy firm in September with his wife.
The Meath politician’s LinkedIn profile claims Noel Dempsey Consulting is ‘currently providing public affairs and government relations advice to a number of client companies’ and ‘mentoring a number of SMEs’.
Pat Carey, another minister in Mr Cowen’s cabinet, recently took up a consultancy role with DHR Communications.
Bar a recent interview for TG4, Mr Cowen has generally avoided the spotlight after his stewardship of the country which ended in an IMF bailout.
His predecessor, Bertie Ahern, was assaulted by a crutch- wielding customer in a pub in Dublin on Friday night and l ocals i n Mr Cowen’s constituency say he has also been the subject of abusive comments.
‘I know the odd time Brian would go somewhere and someone would start shouting at him,’ a neighbour said. ‘But when he comes to funerals down here [Tullamore] he is respected – around here he’s just an ordinary fella.’