Darragh`s profile

26
BUSINESS INSIGHT
HIGH FLYERS
business@irishnews.com
TUESDAY MARCH 8 2016
Appointments
email
appointments@irishnews.com
n Lars-Erik Aaroy
has been appointed
head of business
at Charles Hurst
Jaguar Land Rover
in Belfast
n Kirsty McManus
has been appointed
head of business
development at
Northern Ireland
Chamber of
Commerce and
Industry
n Paul Fox has
been appointed
business
development
executive at
Northern Ireland
Chamber of
Commerce and
Industry
n Donal Laverty
has joined Baker
Tilly Mooney Moore
as consulting
partner
n Stephen
McConnell has
been promoted to
partner at Baker
Tilly Mooney Moore
Colourful world
of market trading
set Darragh on
course for future
In the spotlight
this week is
Darragh Cotter,
managing
director of Daly
Park & Company
recent years is that the
ever increasing volume of
paperwork which appears
to go hand in hand with
business nowadays is more
of a hindrance than a help
at times.
What website or app could
you not do without?
As an accountant, business
and statutory websites
and apps are invaluable
resources, however, I am
not a big app user on a
personal level.
What was your first job?
I learned the basics of
business working from an
early age, with lots of early
starts, in my father’s retail
and wholesale business
(he was a market trader).
The buying and selling
and dealing and meeting
with a whole host of
colourful characters really
developed my insight into
the business world.
What was the last book
you read?
I enjoy sports
autobiographies. The
most recent I’ve read was
about Lance Armstrong,
The Program: Seven Deadly
Sins – My Pursuit of Lance
Armstrong by David Walsh.
What qualifications do you
have?
I have a degree in
accountancy as well as a
post-graduate diploma in
advanced accountancy,
both attained through
the University of
Ulster, Jordanstown. I
subsequently qualified as
a chartered accountant in
1997 and now am a fellow
of Chartered Accountants
Ireland.
What do you attribute
your success to?
I believe there is no
substitute for hard work
and attention to detail
and endeavour to apply
my skills to the best of my
ability to the task in hand,
no matter how small or
large.
How would you describe
yourself to someone who’d
never met you?
I’ve asked this question
of so many interviewees
over the years and now
I’m at a loss for words. I
really enjoy my job and
the people I meet and
work with. While I am
meticulous and take pride
in my attention to detail, I
What car do you drive?
In my dreams I drive off
into the sunset with my
wife, Fiona, in a jet black
Aston Martin DB8. In
reality, to suit my young
family, I drive a Volkswagen
Tiguan.
believe it’s important to be
approachable and have a
good sense of humour.
Who do you look up to in
business?
I am constantly overawed
by the sheer dedication
and application of
entrepreneurs I come
across every day in
business who strive to
succeed no matter what
adversities come their way.
How do you get the best
out of people who work
for you?
I am a firm believer in
leading by example. A good
work ethic and attitude will
always pay dividends in
any organisation. I see that
every day within our team
in Daly Park & Company.
If you could change one
thing about doing business
in Northern Ireland, what
would it be?
It would have to be a
drastic reduction in ‘red
tape’. Our own experience
and that of our clients over
Tell us something
interesting about yourself.
Scuba diving off the coast
of Cozumel, Mexico on my
honeymoon was one for the
bucket list. It was enjoyable
to experience something
a bit other-worldly but my
feet have been planted
firmly on the ground since.
What’s your greatest
passion outside work and
family?
I love a good course, golf
course that is. I’m a keen
golfer and a member of
St Patrick’s Golf Course
in Downpatrick. A weekly
game of five-a-side football
fulfils my competitive
nature and keeps me on
my toes. It would also be
remiss not to mention my
love of Manchester
United FC.