Down To Business

Platform55 helps organisations build fair, high-performing workplaces by supporting people through life's defining moments. Founders, Tracy Gunn and Michelle O'Keefe, join Bobby to tell him all about the company and what itt is they do.

It can be one of the most annoying things a person can do to you. You’re chatting away, and they nonchalantly pick up their phone and look at it. 'Phubbing' is the act of ignoring someone physically present in favor of using a smartphone or other digital device. Gina London, joins Bobby to chat about it.

Writing in the Irish Independent this week, Conor Skehan thinks that we’ve bought into the myth that more houses mean more people can buy a home. He joins Bobby to discuss.

Economic growth increased by 9.7% in the first quarter of the year, with the CSO saying the significant growth was driven by an increase in exports of goods, which rose by nearly 15%. For more on these stories, Bobby is joined by economist Austin Hughes to discuss.

William Syrigos is the 9-year-old Owner of William Alexander Toys, who has been creating 3D-printed and laser-cut toys, other children's products, and selling them online. He joins Bobby in studio with his father, Ioannis, to chat about his business.

As Ireland gets more culturally diverse, so does its workforce, and according to recent estimates, over 420,000 workers in the country are non-Irish. Dr. Mamobo Ogoro is the founder and CEO of GORM, she believes businesses are key to building a culturally diverse and resilient society and has recently launched Ireland’s first intercultural business programme. She joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers is Doug Keatinge, former journalist turned communications consultant & Linda Daly, Business Reporter with the Sunday Times.

We all know that AI will change the way we'll do everything, but do we actually understand how massive a paradigm shift that will be? Bobby is joined by Michael Wad, author of 'GAIN: Demystifying GenAI for Office and Home', which offers an optimistic view on the future.

Doireann Healy launched art and fashion brand Begley & Bowie in 2019 and is based in Kenmare, Co. Kerry. She joins Bobby in this week's Executive Chair.

The bicycle retail sector in Ireland is experiencing a dynamic phase at the moment, characterized by a shift towards e-bikes and a strong emphasis on sustainability and community engagement. But following a boom during the pandemic years, is the local bike shop still as healthy as before? Joining Bobby to discuss is: - Michael Fearon, Co-Owner of Cycle SuperStore - Ryan Hanratty, Director & Owner of Penny Farthing Cycles in Dublin - Simon Worley, Co-Owner of The Edge Sports Superstore in Cork

This week, Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. Here, Bobby tries a bit of karaoke, speaks with Mark Matthews, Head of Research Asia for Julius Baer, about how the stock markets in Asia and elsewhere are responding to Trump's Tariffs, takes a bullet train to Kyoto, is joined by Japan Rugby Head Coach, Eddie Jones, and more.

This week, Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. Here, Bobby speaks to some of Ireland's most promising entrepreneurs and gets a sense of the business landscape from some of Japan's most distinguished business minds.

Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat, where they visited the Ameyoko Market, hopped on a bullet train to Kyoto, and tried their hand at a bit of karaoke.

Joining Bobby, from Kyoto, Japan, as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat, is Frank O’Keeffe, EY Ireland Managing Partner.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Eddie Jones, Head Coach of the Japan national rugby team.

This week, Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. Here, Bobby speaks to some of this year's finalists as well as some of the competition's alumni about how doing business in Asia differs from Ireland and elsewhere in the world.Joining Bobby is:James Kelly, Managing Director at LMH EngineeringAlan Doyle, CEO of AerlytixMark Gilmartin, COO & co-founder of T-Pro

This week, Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan for this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. As part of the trip, Bobby got to speak with Mark Matthews, Head of Research Asia for Julius Baer, about how the stock markets in Asia and elsewhere are responding to Trump's Tariffs.

This week, Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. Here, Bobby speaks to Ken Shibusawa, Chief Executive Officer of Shibusawa and Company, Inc., a strategic advisory firm for alternative investments, ESG/SDGs alignment, and human resource development.

This week, Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. Here, Bobby speaks to Rika Nakazawa, Chief Commercial Innovation Officer at NTT, about organic intelligence, the future of AI, and more.

Bobby is joined by the Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, Damien Cole. Together, they discuss Ireland House, a new centre for Ireland’s presence in Japan, as well as the opportunities for Ireland to develop relationships and partnerships in the region

Joining Bobby from Tokyo, Japan, as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat is:Aine Kennedy, CEO & Founder of The Smooth CompanyCaitriona Ryan & Nicola Ralph from The Institute of DermatologistsLaura Dowling, Founder and CEO fabÜ

This week, Bobby and the team were broadcasting from Japan as part of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. Here, Bobby speaks to Professor Hiroshi Fujikawa from Hitotsubashi University Business School about Japan's ageing population and the potential consequences for their economy.

Lisa Brankin, Chair and Managing Director of Ford Britain and Ireland, joined Bobby Kerr in this week’s Executive Chair. She told the story of the first foreign Ford factory founded in Cork in 1917 and the automaker's expansion plans here

Now, home is where the heart is, but at the heart of every home is the kitchen. For this week’s Industry Review, Bobby chatted to three people who make it their business to make your kitchen everything you’ve ever dreamed of…·        Pat McGrath, MD at Kube Kitchens & Interiors·        Stephen O’Beirne, The Kitchen Doctor·        Deirdre Duffy of Dee Design, Kitchen Design Specialist

One of Ireland’s most famous artists during the boom years, attracting fans and income from A-listers. Then the boom stopped, and he found himself becoming just another artist trying to get noticed and sell some work. Rasher joined Bobby to discuss  his latest exhibition, ‘Don’t Anger the Gods’, which opened last Thursday at the Flux Gallery on Chatham Row

Next week, Down to Business will be broadcasting from Japan! Yes, that’s right. As you know,w we have a long association with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award,s and like we’ve done for the last 10 plus years, we’re travelling as part of this year’s CEO Retreat, which will see us join 140 entrepreneurs in the Far East. You’ll be hearing all about it next week. Joining Bobby to give us a little flavour of what we might expect was Roger Wallace, Partner Lead of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Program.

Sunday Independent Columnist and Leadership expert Gina London and Lorcan Allen of Keating and Associates. Join Bobby Kerr on Down to Business to break down the biggest business stories of the day. Get all the week’s business news here.

Father and son team John and Gerard Loughran join Bobby Kerr in this week’s Executive Chair to tell the story of Dublin’s longest-running family-owned hotel, The Sandymount Hotel.Listen here.

Bobby looks at the music and arts festival business in this week’s Industry Review.He sits down with Declan Forde from Beyond The Pale Festival; Co-Founder of Night and Day Festival, Brendan Hurley, and John Crumlish, CEO of Galway International Arts Festival.Listen here.

Maddy Alexander-Grout, author of Mad About Money, joins Down to Business to talk about running a business as a neurodiverse entrepreneur, parenting with ADHD, and turning challenges into strengths.Listen here.

Damien McCarthy of HR Buddy and Chris Kane, author of Where’s My Office?, join Down to Business to debate Denis O’Brien’s claim that working from home has hurt Ireland’s work ethic.Listen here.

Tech commentator Andy O’Donoghue joins Down to Business to explain why subscription-based models aren’t just for streaming — and why small businesses should consider them for sustainable income.Listen here.

Louisa Meehan of Woodview HRM and Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search join Bobby Kerr to review the biggest business stories making headlines this weekend.Listen here.

Joining Mandy Johnston to for this week's Executive Chair is Ryan Lasmaili, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder of Vaultree.

While protecting human rights and recognising the importance of marginalised cohorts of societies were features of how society operated in the 2000s, the return of President Trump has ushered in an era where the importance of human rights have taken a back seat. Michael Posner, Lawyer and former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor & author of 'Conscience Incorporated: Pursue Profits While Protecting Human Rights', joins Mandy to discuss.

For this week’s Industry Review, Mandy Johnston wanted to find out about the growth of the “Whiskey Bar”, the idea of a separate bar within a pub tailored to the needs of Irish whiskey fanatics.Joining Mandy to discuss is: · Micheal Casey Manager of The Habour Bar In downings Co.Donegal · Willie Ahern Owner of the Palace Bar Dublin · Eoin Ó Catháin Director of the Irish Whiskey Association

Wink with Mink Lashes won Arnotts' Pitch '24 competition, securing their brand's place in-store and online at Planet Beauty in Arnotts & Brown Thomas, allowing customers to experience Wink with Mink's innovative lash solutions firsthand. Shona Mahon, the owner of Wink and Mink, joins Mandy Johnston to chat about how things are going so far. Pitch ’25 is open to founders, makers, and innovators living in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, across fashion, beauty, jewellery, lifestyle, food, circular goods, or technology. You must have a developed product or service, and the ability to scale for the peak Christmas season. Apply now to pitch your brand and bring your vision to life at Arnotts this Christmas.

This week Weight Watchers filed for bankruptcy. At one point Weight Watchers was the go-to place for those looking to shed the pounds but that was before the advent of Ozempic. Writer with the Guardian Doona Ferguson has been looking at this and joins Mandy Johnston to discuss.

Joining Mandy Johnston to run through the main stories in the Saturday papers is Linda Daly, Business Reporter with the Sunday Times & Robert Whelan of Rockwell Finance.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Ashley McDonnell, Founder of Tech Powered Luxury & Ireland Fashion Week.

The Global Economic Summit 2025 is taking place at The Europe Hotel in Kerry on 26-28 May. The weekend retreat will host a number of economic heavy hitters from around the globe, including NASA’s first chief economist, Alex MacDonald, who joins Bobby to chat about the economics of space flight.

Bobby was out & about at The Flight Club, an establishment that combines a fine cocktail & food menu with high-tech social darts.

 When it comes to our green spaces, the more attention we give them, the more we get out of them.And what with the nice weather we’ve been having this week, Bobby thought it would be timely to explore the realities of working in garden design with three of Ireland’s leading lights in this space.Joining Bobby is:Renowned garden designer, Diarmuid GavinIngrid Smyth of Ingrid Smyth Garden DesignAlan Rudden of Alan Rudden Garden Design

It's an uncertain time for business with talk of tariffs and trade wars, not to mention that businesses are finding that they need to focus on sustainability, but how are businesses interacting with banks? Michael Lauhoff, Head of Specialist Banking - Corporate & Commercial Banking at Bank of Ireland.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Stephen O’Leary of Olytico & Joan Mulvihill, Digitization Lead at Siemens.

Joining Bobby on the Executive Chair this week is Adrienne O'Sullivan - CEO ARAG Legal Protection Ltd

Bobby's guests this week were Vinny Browne from Charlie Byrne's Bookshop, Liam Donnelly, Bookshop Manager with Hodges Figgis & Louisa Earls, General Manager of Books Upstairs.

It is sad to say but there is still some hesitancy around allowing women to realise their full potential in the workplace. Elizabeth Willets has made challenging these perceptions and helping women maximize their careers a passion. Her new book Flex is a practical guide in negotiating today’s work spaces where flexible work can become more than a buzz word. 

Bobby spoke to Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times about Market Turmoil in the US

Bobby went out to meet Anne Marie Feighery of Feighery's Farm