UK
On the Spot: Sean O'Murchu, Bank of Ireland Private Banking
12 March 2008
Sean O’Murchu, head of direct business, fields our questions and will answer yours if they tickle his fancy…
A brief history of your career?
I joined Bank of Ireland straight out of college in 1987 and went into various clerical roles. I studied an ACCA at night and the first real job I got was financial controller of Bank of Ireland trust services in 1995. I stayed there for five years and left in 2000. I then joined Bank of Ireland Private Banking and worked there in a couple of different strategic roles. I was sent off to do an executive MBA for two years, came back and moved into a front-line client role as head of retail channel management. After a couple of years at that, I got my own business unit and ended up where I am today.
Moment of glory?
The growth and changing of our relationship with our retail bank over the last three to five years. We could have had a less than effective relationship, but over the last few years we’ve tripled our business volumes and driven the growth in our private business.
What would you rather we forgot?
No regrets. Earlier in my career I probably wouldn’t have appreciated the benefits of working with good people as much and that has changed a lot. It definitely wouldn’t have been my strength in the early days.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known then?
I suppose I have much more of a holistic, strategic view of things now. I try and look at the bigger picture and call things right earlier. In the early days I tended to rush in and not fully explore the issues.
Luck or hard work?
I would say the harder I work, the luckier I am. I definitely think it’s a matter of the right place, right time and right style. For example, if the business wants a softly-softly management approach and you have a hard-driving style, no matter how good you are you’re not going to get the job.
How did you get your first job?
The luckiest break I had was that when I was working in a very junior clerical role, my desk happened to be outside a senior executive’s office. We’d talk about the things I was doing and when he got a very significant role running a business unit, we went for a pizza and a pint and he offered me a financial job. It was a big break…
Which role propelled you to the top?
The role I’ve just left. It was high profile and I interacted with a lot of other senior people in the bank across the four corners of Ireland. If you do a good job people tend to talk, so you get a higher profile.
When did you feel you’d made it?
As soon as I’ve made it I’ll give you a call back.
Where will you be in five years' time?
I would like to be the managing director of a large Irish private bank, ie my boss’s job in BoI. I think the important thing about future roles is taking opportunities as they arise, I can honestly say I know no one whose career turned out exactly as they planned. Having a good mentor who can advise you and help select those developmental roles is key. If you haven’t got one you should get one.
Hi Sean. Can you let me know which of your qualifications has been of most help? I've already got an ACCA and am thinking of doing an MBA with a view to getting into wealth management. Is this advisable? Thanks.
Mr. Jones 12 Mar 2008
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