Download or read book A Life Worth Living written by Michael Smurfit and published by Oak Tree Press (Ireland). This book was released on 2014-04-04 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Life Worth Living tells the story of Michael Smurfitaand the company he built. From humble beginnings, athrough years of hard work, it documents the SmurfitaGroupOCOs seemingly inexorable growth, the challenges facedaand overcome, and the many deals that continually doubledathe size of the business every three or four years. It showsaMichaelOCOs OCylogical opportunismOCO in action, and explains howathe Smurfit culture and systems provided a world-beating competitive advantage. Born in St Helens, Lancashire in August 1936, MichaelaSmurfit joined his fatherOCOs business, Jefferson Smurfita& Sons Ltd. in Dublin, straight from school to learn theapapermaking business OCyfrom the bottom upOCO. Two years after the company floated on theaIrish Stock Exchange, Michael and his brother Jeff became Joint Managing Directors, asaJefferson Senior took on the role of Chairman and Chief Executive. Then followed 30 years ofaacquisitions, as the Jefferson Smurfit Group became IrelandOCOs first multinational companyaand one of the largest paper and packaging companies in the world. In 2002, Michael tookathe Smurfit Group private, retiring as CEO but remaining Chairman. In this role, he steeredaa merger with Kappa Packaging BV, which successfully refloated in 2007 as Smurfit KappaaGroup. MichaelOCOs life outside Smurfit OCo his chairmanship of the Racing Board and of Telecomaeireann; his interest in horseracing; his ownership of The K Club and the triumph thatawas the Ryder Cup 2006 OCo all feature, alongside his love and commitment to his family. Truly, a life worth living."