Quinn, born in Dublin in 1936, has had a career in both business and public service. He is the founder of Superquinn supermarket chain, of which he remains non-executive president after his family sold out their interest in August 2005. He became the chairman of the Interim Board for Posts (An Bord Poist in Irish) in 1979 and served as chairman of its successor An Post (The Post Office) until 1989 - he also served on several other public authorities and boards. From 1993 to 1998, he chaired the steering committee which oversaw the development of the Leaving Certificate Applied version. He currently chairs the IBEC-sponsored business committee on better regulation, Sensible Rules. In 2006 he was appointed an Adjunct Professor in Marketing at National University of Ireland, Galway.

He is President of EuroCommerce the Brussel-based organisation which represents the retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in Europe. Its membership includes over 100 commerce federations in 27 European countries, European and national associations representing specific branches of commerce and many companies. Also he serves on the board of directors of CIES ? the Food Business Forum based in Paris as well as the American-based Food Marketing Institute.

He is the author of "Crowning the Customer" (O'Brien Press, 1990), which has been translated into many languages. He is the recipient of three honorary doctorates from Irish education institutions (NCEA, National University of Ireland and the University of Dublin) and of a papal knighthood. He shared with Oprah Winfrey the 2006 "Listener of the Year" award of the International Listening Association.

Feargal Quinn is married to Denise Quinn, daughter of Ned and Grace Prendergast. They have five adult children. He is a first cousin of Ruairi Quinn TD and of Lochlann Quinn, former chairman of Allied Irish Banks (AIB).

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

External links

• Official site
• Oireachtas Members Profile