Karl holds B Comm & MBA degrees from the National University of Ireland Galway. He has completed Columbia Business School's Advanced Strategy Programme and Harvard Business School's Corporate Boards Programme.

Karl served with the Irish Army reaching the rank of Captain and subsequently worked for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in Ireland & the USA. He then moved to the IMI specialising in executive development & strategic management. Karl joined Amrop Executive Search & rose from Partner to managing Partner. From 2007 to 2010 he was the Executive Chairman of Amrop Europe, Middle East & Africa with responsibility for over 2000 staff in 29 different countries. During his 15 years with Amrop, Karl was a senior member of the Global Board Advisory group. He has led CEO & Board assignments across Europe and the USA.

Karl sits on the Board of of a number of private Irish companies and continues as a Board member of the Amrop Group. He is a long standing member of the Institute of Directors (IOD). Over the past two decades he has completed high end consulting assignments with, the Board & Chief Executive of, the majority of:

• The top 10 quoted firms on the Irish stock exchange.

• The multinational companies in Ireland.

• The semi state companies.

• The large private companies.