Acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for IMI, enabling it to bring its leadership expertise to more organisations as part of a synergistic group of companies
Sharpened, honed leadership skills and knowledge more vital than ever in this volatile global business environment
16th May 2025 – The Kilcullen Business Post Group today announced the completion of its acquisition of the Irish Management Institute (IMI) from University College Cork (UCC).
This significant development further strengthens the IMI’s position at the heart of Ireland’s business community and supports its ambitious growth plans at home and abroad.
The acquisition will enable the IMI to broaden and deepen its capabilities, so that it can continue to guide and support leaders in the private and public sectors to identify and secure a competitive edge in an increasingly complex and fast-moving environment.
As part of a respected and growing business group, IMI will benefit from enhanced access to research, strategic insights, and a wider network of expertise. This will support IMI in extending its reach and impact across diverse sectors and geographies.
The addition of IMI complements the Kilcullen Business Post Group’s existing portfolio and aligns with its “House of Brands” in its vision to deliver world-class content (BusinessPost.ie), experiences (iQuest.ie), insights (RedCResearch.ie), and executive education (IMI.ie) to Ireland’s business and management community.
Commenting on the acquisition and the future of IMI, Enda O’Coineen, Publisher and CEO of the Kilcullen Business Post Group, said:
“We are delighted to officially welcome IMI, one of Ireland’s most iconic business brands, to the Kilcullen Business Post Group. In the world that we live and operate in today, the only thing that is certain is change. Being agile, entrepreneurial, and dynamic is essential to thriving in this environment.
“Recent months have been unprecedented in the global economy. Leaders are being asked to make decisions in the dark essentially. It is vital that they continue to educate themselves on this fast-changing world so that rapid decisions can be well informed.
“Our Group of companies bring together the power of news reporting and insights as well as research – this will help to further inform IMI on the trends and emerging areas that leaders need to know and understand – ensuring that its leadership and development programmes are current, relevant and invaluable for Ireland’s business leaders.”
Shane O’Sullivan will continue as CEO of the IMI and plans are in place to invest further in the IMI senior leadership team. Active recruitment is underway to build and grow the existing team. New board appointments are underway, and a refresh of the IMI Council is planned in the months ahead.
UCC will continue to award IMI qualifications for at least two years as the business transitions and develops to grow not just in Ireland but internationally.
Shane O’Sullivan, CEO of IMI, added: “Today marks an important and exciting new chapter in IMI’s journey. This investment and strategic alignment provides a strong platform to expand our offering and deepen our impact. The world we operate in is becoming increasingly complex, shaped by global uncertainty and defined by rapid technological change, driven by AI. The need for learning has never been greater and has never had such a return on investment. Leaders need to be more adaptive, more attuned to change, and more focused on empowering their people to succeed. At IMI, we are here to guide organisations in doing that and with the support of the Kilcullen Business Post Group our proposition will be more relevant than ever before.”
As part of this next chapter, IMI will also take on a central facilitation role at the upcoming Killarney Global Economic Summit, which will be opened by An Taoiseach on Monday, 26th May. This reflects IMI’s continued commitment to supporting leadership development and contributing to national and international dialogue on key business and economic issues.
Media Queries:
Paul Nallon, Q4PR (paul@q4pr.ie; 086 869 4041).
