John O'Farrell
Dublin 6
Summary
Group General Manager with a track record in delivering strategic outcomes financial in competitive hospitality markets. Builds financial and operational control frameworks, policies, and procedures to improve performance and governance. Leads cross-division adoption of initiatives across product management, sales, marketing, and professional services to strengthen collaboration.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Resort General Manager
Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort
Meath, Ireland
07.2025 - Current
- Managed financial budgets, forecasting, and reporting, ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
- Secured a strong EBITDA and Cashflow .
- Controlled expenses and allocated financial resources to reach budget goals.
- Built successful business culture focused on performance optimisation and goal attainment.
- Developed high-performing teams to consistently exceed goals, drive revenue and expand markets.
- Analysed market trends and adjusted business strategies to capitalise on new opportunities for growth.
- Leading a team of 230+ employees, fostering a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
- Negotiated and managed high-value contracts, ensuring optimal service provision and cost-efficiency.
- Tracked organizational performance against objectives and revamped strategies to better meet targets.
- Conducted comprehensive competitor analysis to inform strategic decision-making and competitive positioning.
- Spearheaded operational improvements, significantly reducing costs while enhancing overall efficiency across departments.
Managing Director
Revolution IoT
Kildare
09.2023 - 07.2025
- Spearheaded negotiations with banks and financial institutions, securing favourable terms for financing.
- Engaged in vendor negotiations, securing cost-effective raw materials without compromising on quality.
- Led negotiations with authors, agents, and contributors, securing favourable terms and copyrights.
- Spearheaded negotiations with international freight carriers, securing contracts that resulted in £2M annual savings.
- Managed logistics for corporate events, including venue selection, vendor negotiations, and on-site coordination, ensuring seamless execution.
- Managed comprehensive legal services, overseeing contract negotiations and litigation processes for optimal outcomes.
Group General Manager
Citywest Hotel & Convention Centre
10.2007 - 11.2020
- Supported day-to-day operations across hotel, club, golf, and convention areas.
- Reported performance updates to asset managers and owners for review.
- Developed sales strategies to protect profitability and broaden business opportunities.
- Managed business development activities to support long-term site success.
- Controlled key operating costs and assessed performance using key metrics.
- Set targets and individual KPIs for managers and assistant managers.
- Conducted site visits for compliance across guest service operations.
- Built and managed operational budgets with revenue and forecasting reports.
- Designed policies and procedures to streamline daily activity.
- Led teams over 450 full-time and 300 agency staff via example.
- Managed vendors, suppliers, and stakeholders to lower vendor costs.
- Negotiated domestic and international contracts up to and exceeding €1m.
- Oversaw major international events including Disney on Ice and PDC.
- Delivered a €15m refurbishment by managing design, construction, and installation.
- Managed COVID-19 isolation unit alongside HSE teams during pandemic.
Director of Hospitality
Glenview Hotel
- Glenview Hotel : 72 Bedroom 4 star property in the Glen of the Downs
- Wicklow . Leisure Club with 2,800 members, 60 acres of land with planning applications to extend the key count to 100.
- Appointed as Director of Hospitality to oversee the rebuilding of the business and rebuild a management team to lead the enterprise into the next stage of expansion.
- Key responsabilities:
- Reported directly to the board on all matters pertaining to the commercial entity.
- Set out the vision and strategy for the business over a five year plan.
- Developed budgets for the Hotel Management Team and managed a strict KPI programme.
- Full responsibility on presenting the budget and monthly management accounts to the board.
- Presented to the financial institutions annually on behalf of the board.
- Created the annual refurbishment plan and project signed off on every aspect of detail.
- Negotiated all new procurement contracts to ensure margins were stable during the cost of living crisis.
- Liaised with Local County Councils and other stakeholders on all of our planning applications .
- Developed a training program with seven international catering colleges to ensure that resource levels were not impacting on commercial returns.
- Developed new F&B outlets to increase the TREVPAR across the Venue.
- Liaised directly with Estate Agents on purchasing new properties and carried out asset testing to ensure properties were viable.
- Key achievements:
- Successfully built a new management team in Year 1 , completing 180 interviews in the first twelve months.
- Increased EBITDA & turnover surpassing 2018 /19 figures at record levels whilst maintaining strong margins.
- Negotiated and closed off on historical trade deals that were left abandoned by past
- MT.
Education
Harvard Law School CeCertificate - Understadning the Psychological Barriers that Derail Negotiations
Harvard Law School
06.2023
Harvard Law School CeCertificate - Negotiating When Parties have Diverse, Deeply Held Convictions
Harvard Law School
05.2023
Negotiations Masterclass 2022 - Negotiations Masterclass
Harvard Law School
Boston01.2022
Harvard Law School CeCertificate - Overcoming Resistance in Negotiations
Harvard Law School
01.2022
Cornell University - Negotiations Mastery
Cornell University
01.2021
Cornell University - Negotiations Mastery
Cornell University
01.2021
Ecole du Hotelier Lausanne - Driving Hotel Revenues
Ecole du Hotelier Lausanne
01.2021
National College of Ireland - Project management
National College of Ireland
01.2011
Advanced Diploma in Event Management -
CMI Dublin
Dublin01.2010
Hotel Management Programme -
Impney Hotel Group
01.1995
Skills
- Business development and commercial strategies
- Revenue and profit growth
- SLA and KPI attainment
- Change management initiatives
- Data analysis and insights
- Customer journey mapping
- Strategic planning and execution
- Competitor analysis and benchmarking
- Risk management strategies
- Problem solving techniques
- Customer service excellence
- Union negotiations expertise
- Fiscal control measures
- Stakeholder engagement practices
- Market penetration strategies
- Financial reporting accuracy
- Team leadership skills
- Public speaking and motivation
Professional Associations
- President of Toastmasters Clondalkin 2026 /27
- Co - Author " Flip the Script " with Chris Voss.
- Chairman of South Dublin Chamber Business Awards 2015 - 2020
- Evaluations and Approvals Committee (EVAC), Local Enterprise Office, South Dublin 2015 - 2017.
- Strategic Policy Committee Member (SPC), South Dublin County Council, 2015 - 2017.
- Chair of the Organising Committee, UK Trade Mission, Manchester, 2014.
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
- linkedin.com/in/john-o-farrell-91539a17
Timeline
Resort General Manager
Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort
07.2025 - Current
Managing Director
Revolution IoT
09.2023 - 07.2025
Group General Manager
Citywest Hotel & Convention Centre
10.2007 - 11.2020
Director of Hospitality
Glenview Hotel
Harvard Law School CeCertificate - Understadning the Psychological Barriers that Derail Negotiations
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School CeCertificate - Negotiating When Parties have Diverse, Deeply Held Convictions
Harvard Law School
Negotiations Masterclass 2022 - Negotiations Masterclass
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School CeCertificate - Overcoming Resistance in Negotiations
Harvard Law School
Cornell University - Negotiations Mastery
Cornell University
Cornell University - Negotiations Mastery
Cornell University
Ecole du Hotelier Lausanne - Driving Hotel Revenues
Ecole du Hotelier Lausanne
National College of Ireland - Project management
National College of Ireland
Advanced Diploma in Event Management -
CMI Dublin
Hotel Management Programme -
Impney Hotel Group