Fergal O'Byrne

Fergal O'Byrne is an internet industry entrepreneur and founded Interactive Return (formerly webBusters) back in 1998. He is also on the Board of Directors of premier gift company 4giftsdirect.com, CFIL, WINC and CCD. In 2004 he was awarded the IIA/Microsoft Internet Marketer of the Year Award.

Fergal is CEO of the Irish Internet Association and a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland, Engineers Ireland and a host of other international professional bodies. He has written many white papers and technical documents for top magazines and was the internet industry commentator for Business and Finance magazine. He was recently chosen as the first Irish person to address the prestigious New York New Media Association.

Fergal's latest book - 10 Online Marketing and Search Engine Essentials was published in August 2004 by Aspatore Books.

Fergal's recent book - 10 Technologies Every Executive Should Know - written with Dermot Mc Cormack, was also published by Aspatore Books. Described as a straightforward, easy to understand look at ten technologies shaping the economic landscape it is hoped this book will fill some gaps in the busy executive's working knowledge of technology.

He has also written fiction works for radio, stage and film and was Short Listed for the 2000 Hennessy Literary Awards. His most recent fiction book Trolley Ride in Manhattan was published by Mentor Books and is available to purchase on Amazon.

He was part of the original team that helped to set up eircom.net and was Content Development Manager in charge of such projects as the Doras Directory, Ireland's largest directory of rated websites. He also worked as Product Development Manager for PhoneWatch, helping to develop their wireless intruder alarm system. Fergal has represented Ireland on a number of European Technical Working Groups, including WG11 of TC79. He holds an Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering from DIT, Kevin Street. He is Associate Lecturer on the MBA stream at the Smurfit School of Business, Dublin, Ireland.

Fergal spends his time working in Granite Barn, Wexford, Ireland and lives with his Danish wife Maiken, who runs a specialist training company called Contact Centre Development.