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Paddy Cosgrave

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Paddy Cosgrave
Cosgrave at Web Summit 2022
Born
Patrick Cosgrave

(1983-03-19) 19 March 1983 (age 41)
County Wicklow, Ireland
OccupationEntrepreneur
Known forCo-founder of Web Summit
Spouse
Faye Dinsmore
​
(m. 2016)​
Children1

Patrick "Paddy" Cosgrave (born 19 March 1983[1]) is an Irish entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of Web Summit, an annual technology conference. He was CEO of Web Summit until October 2023 when he resigned and was replaced by Katherine Maher.[2] Maher left after three months and, in April 2024, staff were told Cosgrave had decided to return as CEO.[3][4]

Early life and education

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Cosgrave grew up on a farm in County Wicklow.[5] He was educated at Glenstal Abbey School and Trinity College Dublin, where he studied business, Economics and Social Studies (BESS).[6][7] While at Trinity he was president of the University Philosophical Society (The Phil) and editor of Piranha, a satirical college magazine.[8] During his presidency of The Phil, the society introduced Phil Speaks, an outreach initiative aimed at promoting debating and public speaking in Irish secondary schools.[9] Cosgrave graduated with a II-1 BA from Trinity College, Dublin's BESS program in 2006.[10][11]

Career

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Patrick "Paddy" Cosgrave in 2019
Patrick "Paddy" Cosgrave in 2019

Cosgrave was the executive director of Rock the Vote Ireland, a campaign launched in April 2007 to encourage young people to vote in the May 2007 Irish general election.[12] He was a co-founder of MiCandidate, a website that "provided detailed information on every candidate running in the 2007 general election".[8] The company was sold for "an undisclosed sum" in October 2009.[13] In 2008, he was involved with the foundation of an Irish Undergraduate Awards scheme.[14]

Cosgrave is a co-founder of the Web Summit and F.ounders conferences.[7][15]

Cosgrave was awarded the 2015 Irish Exporters Association annual gold medal.[16] He was listed 18th in the 2015 Wired UK list of the "100 most influential individuals in the wider Wired world".[17]

Cosgrave is an Ambassador for the European Innovation Council for the years 2021–2027.[18]

Cosgrave, through the Web Summit, was an investor in The Ditch news website.[19][20]

Controversies

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Cosgrave (right) with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Cosgrave (right) with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

In March 2012, Cosgrave was appointed to the board of the Higher Education Authority (HEA).[21] While still a member of the board in 2014, Cosgrave said that his company would recruit graduates with II.1 degrees from Trinity College Dublin or with first class honours degrees from other Irish universities. The HEA said Cosgrave’s views on the value of degrees at different universities were his own and not those of the authority. Cosgrave resigned from the HEA board in 2015.[11][22]

In 2015, Cosgrave apologised for falsely taking credit for building the Tito ticketing application.[23]

In 2018 at the Collision tech conference in New Orleans, the IDA was sponsoring a drinks reception for chief executives of around 200 companies. According to former Web Summit director David Kelly, as a senior female IDA executive gave a short welcome speech, Paddy Cosgrave stood beside her “slow clapping”.[24] An email from the IDA described the alleged incident as ‘particularly regrettable’.[25]

The Web Summit has also been the subject of several controversies under Cosgrave's stewardship, including its move from Dublin to Lisbon,[26] the organisation of a dinner at Portugal's National Pantheon,[27] and the invitation of Marine Le Pen as a speaker, which was subsequently withdrawn.[28][29][30][31]

Criticism for comments

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Cosgrave has come under criticism and faced legal action for comments he has made on multiple occasions, particularly about politicians.

Cosgrave criticised the Irish tax system in 2019. When asked at a press conference if his stance could be viewed as hypocrisy, Cosgrave agreed as Amaranthine, an investment fund set up by Cosgrave with other Web Summit founders, is based in California but registered in Delaware - an effective tax shelter.[32][33]

On 30 March 2020, Cosgrave posted a tribute on Twitter to the "4 nurses in Ireland who fought so hard for so many patients, but who themselves fell ill, and have now passed. RIP." The following day, the Health Service Executive tweeted that "Contrary to tweets sent yesterday - thankfully none of our nurses have died in Ireland from #COVID19." Phil Ni Sheaghdha, general secretary of the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO), accused Cosgrave of "scaremongering".[34] On 8 June, Cosgrave "unreservedly" apologised on Twitter to the HSE and the INMO.[35] On 14 May 2023, in an RTE radio interview, Cosgrave said that his original tweet was correct.[36]

Also in 2020, Cosgrave was criticised for using what some inferred as sectarian and pejorative language in calling Neale Richmond a "Castle Catholic".[37][38]

Paddy Cosgrave
@paddycosgrave
 X logo, a stylized letter X

I’m shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland’s government, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are.

13 Oct 2023[39]

In 2023, during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Cosgrave publicly stated on X that "War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are", referring to war crimes committed by Israel in the war against Gaza. He also denounced the attacks by Hamas and stated that he was "devastated to see the level of innocent civilian casualties in Israel and Gaza". Although he remained firm with his previous condemnation, he later on apologized,[40][41] and subsequently resigned as CEO of Web Summit on 21 October after companies like Intel, Siemens, Google, Amazon and Meta withdrew from the 2023 event.[42][43][44] In April 2024, Cosgrave's decision to return as CEO was announced.[4]

Court cases

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In 2020, Maitiú Ó Tuathail took legal proceedings against Cosgrave regarding comments Cosgrave made on his Twitter profile. The case was settled outside of court.[45]

In November 2021, an Irish High Court case was filed while the Web Summit conference was underway in Portugal, marking an intensification of the legal battle between the two co-founders of the event. Paddy Cosgrave has been accused of oppressing a minority shareholder, attempting to engage in blackmail against a co-director, and hacking a rival Irish events company.[46][47][48] In the same month, Cosgrave was accused by a former director of Web Summit of regularly demeaning and chastising staff members.[49]

In February 2022, Cosgrave was sued by John McGuirk for defamation for Tweets posted in December 2021.[50]

In April 2022 Cosgrave was sued by a former Web Summit PR executive Mark O’Toole in the Irish High Court. O’Toole's action related to comments made by Cosgrave in a number of tweets which O’Toole alleges to be untrue, malicious and defamatory.[51]

In November 2022, Cosgrave was sued for defamation by businessman Robert Quirke over a tweet sent in March 2021. Quirke who is the CEO of Roqu Group, claimed that the tweet was clearly calculated to damage the plaintiff's reputation. The tweet referred to a deal involving Quirke and Roqu and the HSE for the provision of ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic.[52]

Personal life

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Cosgrave married model-turned-designer Faye Dinsmore in 2016 and has one son. In 2022 Cosgrave purchased a Georgian manor and lands in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal for €1.8M.[53][54]

References

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  1. ^ "Paddy Cosgrave". Twitter. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  2. ^ אושרי אלקסלסי (30 October 2023). "מנכ"לית ויקימדיה לשעבר תחליף את המייסד האנטי-ישראלי של Web Summit".
  3. ^ Butcher, Mike (24 January 2024). "Web Summit CEO jumps ship to head up NPR after just 3 months". TechCrunch.
  4. ^ a b Horan, Niamh (7 April 2024). "Paddy Cosgrave back to top at Web Summit as he resumes CEO role after quitting over online posts on Israel-Hamas war". The Sunday Independent.
  5. ^ Connolly, Philip (4 November 2014). "Profile: Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave". The Daily Business Post. Dublin. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  6. ^ Duggan, Barry (20 September 2015). "Top school enrols boys who won't start classes until 2027". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  7. ^ a b Medeiros, Joao (5 January 2015). "Scaling Dublin's Summit". Wired UK. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  8. ^ a b Crowley, Aoife (2013). "Spinning a web summit". Trinity Today. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  9. ^ Keenan, Lisa; O'Hare, Aidan (2010). "Universities, Societies & Clubs. Culture, Extracurricular Activities & Career Progression: Trinity College Dublin, Four Case Studies" (PDF). Trinity Long Room Hub. p. 19. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Paddy Cosgrave". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  11. ^ a b Humphreys, Joe (8 May 2014). "Is a Trinity degree worth more? Tech entrepreneur hits a nerve". Irish Times. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  12. ^ Kane, Conor (21 March 2007). "Celebrities call on young people to rock the vote". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  13. ^ Kennedy, John (7 October 2009). "Political media start-up MiCandidate acquired in MBO". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Trinity graduates spearhead new awards for academic excellence". Trinity News. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  15. ^ Temperton, James (23 September 2015). "Web Summit 2016 will ditch Dublin for Lisbon". Wired UK. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Exporters Association presents Gold Medal to Paddy Cosgrave, Web Summit at IEA President's Lunch at The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin". Irish Exporters Association. 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  17. ^ "The 2015 WIRED 100". Wired UK. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015. The only rules for nomination to the WIRED 100 are that the individuals must have a strong European connection, if not a base here; and they are being judged on their influence today, rather than historic achievements or funding raised.
  18. ^ "EIC Ambassadors (2021 – 2027)". European Innovation Council. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  19. ^ Tighe, Mark (25 July 2022). "Hurlers on The Ditch: The small online news team who plunged An Bord Pleanála into crisis". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  20. ^ O'Brien, Ciara (7 November 2023). "Web Summit pulls funding for The Ditch website". The Irish Times.
  21. ^ "Head of Development appointed to HEA Board". www.itsligo.ie. IT Sligo. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  22. ^ "Higher Education Authority Report of the 372nd Meeting" (PDF). hea.ie. Higher Education Authority. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Paddy Cosgrave issues app-ology". irishtimes.ie. The Irish Times. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  24. ^ Sheehan, Maeve (7 November 2021). "Claims Cosgrave 'slow-clapped' IDA staff member during speech". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  25. ^ Sanz, Catherine (17 October 2021). "Claims Cosgrave 'slow-clapped' IDA staff member during speech". Business Post. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  26. ^ Killian, Woods (21 September 2016). "Web Summit is getting comfy in Portugal as it opens a Lisbon office". Fora.
  27. ^ Halpin, Hayley (14 November 2017). "Web Summit organiser apologises over 'offensive' dinner at Portugal's National Pantheon". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  28. ^ McDermott, Stephen (15 August 2018). "Web Summit founder withdraws invite for far-right leader Marine Le Pen to 2018 event". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  29. ^ McSorley, Christina (16 August 2018). "Marine Le Pen's presence deemed 'disrespectful' at Web Summit". BBC News. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  30. ^ O'Donovan, Donal (16 August 2018). "Web Summit chief in U-turn as invitation to far-right leader Le Pen is withdrawn". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  31. ^ Murphy, Greg (15 August 2018). "Latest: Web Summit withdraw Le Pen invitation saying it is 'disrespectful' to Portugal and attendees". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  32. ^ Power, Jack (18 April 2019). "Paddy Cosgrave 'no saint' over US fund tax arrangements". www.irishtimes.ie. Irish Times. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  33. ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack (15 April 2020). "Facebook ad about Ireland's corporate tax system targeting European users". www.irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  34. ^ Coyne, Ellen (2 April 2020). "Web Summit founder urged to apologise over rubbished 'four nurses dead' tweet". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  35. ^ Gataveckaite, Gabija (8 June 2020). "Paddy Cosgrave apologises to INMO and HSE after tweeting four nurses died from Covid-19". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  36. ^ McCarthy, Justin (15 May 2023). "This Week Sunday 14 May 2023". www.rte.ie. RTE. Event occurs at 29:50. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  37. ^ Meagher, John. "Paddy Cosgrave profile: the contradictions of a 'crony' crusader entrepreneur". independent. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  38. ^ Moloney, Marita. "What does the term 'Castle Catholic' mean?". Newstalk. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  39. ^ Paddy Cosgrave [@paddycosgrave] (13 October 2023). "I'm shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland's government, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  40. ^ Allyn, Bobby (21 October 2023). "CEO of Web Summit tech conference resigns over Israel comments". npr. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  41. ^ Chowdhury, Hasan; Mann, Jyoti. "CEO apologizes for Israel remarks after 4 days of backlash and conference dropouts". Business Insider. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  42. ^ Loizos, Connie (21 October 2023). "Paddy Cosgrave has stepped down as CEO of Web Summit". TechCrunch. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  43. ^ Ponnezhath, Maria (21 October 2023). "Web Summit CEO resigns after comments on Israel-Hamas conflict". Reuters. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  44. ^ Horan, Niamh; Weckler, Adrian (21 October 2023). "Paddy Cosgrave resigns as CEO of Web Summit with 'immediate effect'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  45. ^ Phelan, Shane (3 November 2020). "Leak controversy doctor settles libel action against Web Summit chief". Irish Independent.
  46. ^ Sanz, Catherine (3 November 2021). "Paddy Cosgrave accused of 'oppressing' Web Summit co-founder". Business Post. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  47. ^ Carswell, Simon (ed.). "Vendettas, toxic relations and €850 jumpers: new claims from Web Summit's legal battle". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  48. ^ Taylor, Charlie. "Paddy Cosgrave alleged to have hacked rival event company, court documents say". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  49. ^ Carolan, Mary (ed.). "Cosgrave 'routinely chastised and demeaned staff', ex-Web Summit director claims". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  50. ^ Carolan, Mary (28 February 2022). "Web Summit co-founder facing lawsuit over alleged defamation". www.irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  51. ^ Phelan, Shane (29 April 2022). "Web Summit boss Paddy Cosgrave sued for defamation by former employee". www.independent.ie. Irish Independent. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  52. ^ O’Faolain, Aodhan (28 November 2022). "Paddy Cosgrave being sued by businessman over tweet". www.irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  53. ^ Colin, Coyle (27 January 2023). "Web Summit cofounder Paddy Cosgrave buys €1.8m Donegal manor". www.irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  54. ^ "My cultural life: Faye Dinsmore". independent. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
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