Paddy McNally | |
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Born | Patrick Sean McNally 20 December 1937 |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1963–2011 |
Known for | Formula 1 and association with Sarah Ferguson |
Children | 2 |
Patrick Sean McNally (born 20 December 1937)[2] is an Irish businessman and former journalist. He was the founder and chief executive of Allsport Management, a Swiss-based company which controlled Formula One advertising and hospitality for the Paddock Club.[3]
McNally was born on 20 December 1937[2] in Stranorlar, County Donegal, Ireland.[1][4][5] He grew up on a farm in County Monaghan[6] and initially worked in London as a Grand Prix reporter.[7]
Beginning his career as a motorsports journalist for Autosport magazine, McNally was also involved in sports car racing events in the 1960s. He then moved to Switzerland and worked for Philip Morris's Marlboro as a sponsorship consultant.[7] Later, he was a driver manager of Niki Lauda and James Hunt respectively.[5]
McNally began working with Bernie Ecclestone in the late 1970s.[7] In 1984, he founded Allsport Management SA, a company which provided corporate hospitality and trackside advertising for Formula One events.[8] Based in Geneva, Allsport and related Allsopp Parker & Marsh (APM), registered in Ireland,[9] owned the trackside advertising rights at Formula One circuits and operated the Formula One Paddock Club, the Grand Prix hospitality provider.[5]
In 2006, he sold Allsport Management to CVC for $334 million.[4][10]
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, McNally has a net worth of £510 million.[11]
McNally dated Sarah, Duchess of York.[12][13][14] The pair remain close friends.[15] He has homes in the Côte d'Azur and Switzerland, notably chalets in Verbier.[16][17] He also owns Warneford Place, Wiltshire, the former home of Ian Fleming. In 2004, the property was burgled.[18]