Johnny Sexton swaps the rugby pitch for private equity with new Exponent role
Johnny Sexton swaps the rugby pitch for private equity with new Exponent role
Sexton will take on the role alongside his position as kicking coach for the Ireland national team. He previously served as chief of staff at Ardagh Group, where he oversaw a workforce of more than 20,000 people before stepping down earlier this year to focus on coaching.
“Over my sports career, my principal focus both as a player and a coach has always been on how I could get the best out of myself and my teammates to improve team performance,” Sexton said. “[I] look forward to working hands-on with [Exponent’s] team and portfolio companies.”
Exponent, founded 21 years ago by former 3i executives, has invested more than €1bn in Irish companies since 2012 and redomiciled its headquarters from London to Dublin two years ago. The firm now supports about 3,000 jobs in Ireland through its portfolio.
Recent investments include the €300m acquisition of Galway-based Chanelle Pharmaceuticals, the £300m purchase of Northern Ireland’s Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, and an investment in Dublin-based data centre specialist Ethos Engineering. It also owns H&MV Engineering in Limerick.
Led by managing partner Richard Lenane, Exponent recently closed its fifth fund at £900m (€1.04bn), backed by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and AIB.
Exponent is also known for earlier acquisitions such as Racing Post and Enva, as well as its stake in accounting firm Xeinadin.
The appointment underscores Exponent’s growing presence in Ireland’s private equity ecosystem, as the firm continues to build long-term partnerships with domestic management teams and entrepreneurs.
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