David McCourt

McCourt grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Georgetown University. Upon graduation, he worked for 18 months as a probation officer's aide in a Washington D.C. neighbourhood.{{Cite news|last=MONAGHAN|first=GABRIELLE|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/telecoms-boss-is-wired-for-the-future-d2srf52brmg|title=Telecoms boss is wired for the future|newspaper=The Times |access-date=2020-03-02|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}

After working with the probation officer in Washington D.C., McCourt founded his first company, McCourt Cable Systems, operating as a designer and builder of cable networks. The company grew to be the largest privately owned designer and builder of cable systems in the US.{{cite news|title='I love doing battle': The tough guy who made $750m - BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40353198|accessdate=7 July 2017}} This venture led to him forming the first competitive telephone network in America, Corporate Communications Network. This company was merged with Metropolitan Fibre Systems (MFS) creating MFS McCourt. MFS was later sold for $14.3 billion to MCI Worldcom.{{cite web|url=http://www.valueinstitute.org/imgdir/docs/70754_STJan25.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183839/http://www.valueinstitute.org/imgdir/docs/70754_STJan25.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 13, 2017|title=How I keep my hands on my money|website=Sunday Times|accessdate=25 January 2015}}

In 1985, McCourt built the first independent TV station on the Caribbean Island of Grenada, Discovery TV.

McCourt's next venture collaborated with engineering and construction firm Peter Kiewit Sons, Inc. From this partnership emerged McCourt Kiewit International, based in London, which became the largest designer and builder of residential cable television and telephone networks in Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.granahanmccourt.com/david-c-mccourt/|title=David C. McCourt: Founder and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital|website=Granahan McCourt Capital|accessdate=1 November 2016}}

McCourt was responsible for bringing the first competitive telephone and TV landscape to Mexico. He also brought traditional waiting times for land line phones down from one year to less than thirty days .{{cite web|title=David C. McCourt Discusses Granahan McCourt's Plans to Bring Connectivity to the Developing World|url=http://annenberg.usc.edu/research/m2e/news/david-c-mccourt-discusses-granahan-mccourts-plans-bring-connectivity-developing|website=USC Annenberg}}

In 1993, he acquired control of a publicly traded company C-TEC Corporation. He spent four years selling subsidiaries to grow the business. In 1997, McCourt split C-TEC into three publicly traded companies - RCN Corporation, Cable Michigan, Inc. and Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. and served as the CEO for all of them.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/05/business/company-news-cable-michigan-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-avalon-cable.html|title=COMPANY NEWS; CABLE MICHIGAN AGREES TO BE ACQUIRED BY AVALON CABLE|last=Jones|first=Dow|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en}}

McCourt was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of RCN Corporation until its bankruptcy in 2004 following 23 consecutive quarterly losses and $4 billion of total losses.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mcall.com/2004/06/01/can-rcn-chief-david-mccourt-hang-onto-job-in-bankruptcy-under-his-leadership-the-company-has-had-23-straight-quarters-of-losses/|title=Can RCN chief David McCourt hang onto job in bankruptcy?|work=tribunedigital-mcall|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en}}

McCourt later turned his attention to TV and film, taking various production roles. In 2005, he won an Emmy for the series Reading Rainbow, a long running children's show that encourages reading.{{cite web|title=Emmy Award for Irish Businessman|url=http://www.massmind.com/15738/Emmy_Award|website=Massmind}} McCourt also produced Miracle's Boys directed by Spike Lee on Nickelodeon's new teenage network.{{cite web|title=UCD|url=http://www.ucd.ie/news/may05/emmy.htm|website=Producer, David C. McCourt, Receives Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series.}} He served as Executive Producer on the ten-part documentary series "What's Going On?" which documented the impact of global conflict on children around the world.{{cite web|title=A Conversation with David McCourt, Founder and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital|url=http://uchicagogate.com/2016/12/07/a-conversation-with-david-mccourt-founder-and-ceo-of-granahan-mccourt-capital/|website=Chicago Political Review|access-date=2017-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183028/http://uchicagogate.com/2016/12/07/a-conversation-with-david-mccourt-founder-and-ceo-of-granahan-mccourt-capital/|archive-date=2017-09-13|url-status=dead}}

In 2013, as the chairman and CEO of the investment firm Granahan McCourt, McCourt led a consortium of companies which included Oak Hill Advisers, as well as the family of Walter Scott Jr., to acquire the Irish Fibre Company, Enet. Its network is used by over 70 telecommunication operators providing broadband to millions of people across Ireland.{{cite web|title=The billion-dollar Boston mogul who aims to fix Ireland's broadband|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/the-billiondollar-boston-mogul-who-aims-to-fix-irelands-broadband-34906474.html|accessdate=24 July 2016|website=Irish Independent}} McCourt acquired another Irish telecom operator, Airspeed Telecom, in 2014 for an undisclosed amount. At this point, McCourt and his partners had invested more than €100m in Irish Operations.

Granahan McCourt took a controlling stake in internet video company Narrowstep Inc in 2006. McCourt became chairman and CEO and led a $10.5 million equity financing for the company in 2007.{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070808005651/en/Internet-TV-Company-Narrowstep-Completes-10.5-Million|title=Internet TV Company Narrowstep, Inc. Completes $10.5 Million Equity Financing|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/narrowstep-sale-to-onstream-deal-value-cut-from-118-million-to-51-million/|title=Narrowstep Sale To Onstream: Deal Value Cut From $11.8 Million To $5.1 Million|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fraud-kitdigital/ex-kit-digital-ceo-associate-convicted-in-u-s-of-fraud-schemes-idUSKBN1EK1GW|title=Ex-Kit Digital CEO, associate convicted in U.S. of fraud schemes|last=Raymond|first=Nate|work=U.S.|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en-US}}{{cite web|title=US telecoms investors buy Irish fibre firm E-net|url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/companies/us-telecoms-investors-buy-irish-fibre-firm-e-net|website=Silicon Republic|accessdate=27 September 2013}}

In 2016, McCourt announced the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following the Vision 2030 reform plans outlined by deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, seeking to open up opportunities for foreign investment.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/saudi-arabia-vision-2030-eight-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-reform-plan|title=Saudi Arabia Vision 2030: Eight things you need to know about the reform plan {{!}} The National|access-date=2016-07-08}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2016/05/10/taqnia-skyware-and-cresent-form-satellite-jv-with-kacst/|title=Taqnia, Skyware and Cresent [sic] form Satellite JV with KACST - Via Satellite -|last=Henry|first=Caleb|date=2016-05-10|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-08}} Through his ownership of Skyware Technologies, McCourt also operates global manufacturing facilities in key territories including China, where he has set up multiple strategic partnerships.{{cite web |title=Executive Spotlight — David McCourt |url=http://www.satmagazine.com/story.php?number=509135403 |website=SAT Magazine |accessdate=10 January 2010}}

McCourt has launched several digital technology platforms and is the technology partner for sports content platform Dugout. In June 2016, McCourt launched ALTV.com, a digital TV platform.{{cite web|title=The cable guy: David C McCourt on Ireland's broadband future|url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/david-c-mccourt-enet-interview-national-broadband-plan|website=Silicon Republic|accessdate=3 August 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2016060443106/altv-begins-streaming-video-service-with-mena-rollout.html#axzz4D9r4CMDl|title=ALTV begins streaming video service with MENA rollout|last=Editor|access-date=2016-07-08}} His investments also include a phone app called Findyr, a crowd sourcing technology invention.

As the owner and Chairman of National Broadband Ireland, in November 2019, McCourt signed contracts with the Irish Government to deliver the country's €5 billion National Broadband Plan. Globally,{{Cite news |last1=Burke-Kennedy |first1=Eoin |last2=Leahy |first2=Pat |last3=Bray |first3=Jennifer |title=Broadband cost set to top €5bn including private investment |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/broadband-cost-set-to-top-5bn-including-private-investment-1.3885560 |access-date=2024-11-18 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} this will be the single largest investment ever in telecommunication infrastructure by Government intervention to revitalise rural communities and stop the creation of socio-economic divide. It is the biggest investment in Ireland since rural electrification.{{Cite news |last=Leahy |first=Pat |title=Signing of €3bn broadband contract is 'biggest investment in rural Ireland ever' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/signing-of-3bn-broadband-contract-is-biggest-investment-in-rural-ireland-ever-1.4087859 |access-date=2024-11-18 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}

In November 2024, five years on from the initial contract signing of the National Broadband Plan, The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications published its first independent evaluation report conducted by EY, which found that the National Broadband Plan is delivering widespread direct and indirect benefits for businesses, homeowners and rural and underserved communities. The National Broadband Plan has been credited by Minister of State Ossian Smyth as being on time, on budget and having credible evidence that the project is delivering higher benefits that expected.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-04 |title=National Broadband Plan benefits outlined in Independent Evaluation Report |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/5c873-national-broadband-plan-benefits-outlined-in-independent-evaluation-report/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.gov.ie |language=en}}

McCourt is the author of the book 'Total Rethink: Why Entrepreneurs Should Act Like Revolutionaries', published by Wiley. The book became a Wall Street Journal best-seller in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-17 |title=David McCourt’s Total Rethink Announced as Best Business and Entrepreneurship Book at Industry Awards |url=https://apnews.com/press-release/business-wire/entertainment-wiley-b39825e3868447ca822cdf0fa149cf56 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=AP News |language=en}} McCourt has also been a regular commentator providing editorials to international newspapers including the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.{{Cite web |date=2007-04-16 |title=Online video and the death of Hollywood |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3fb8100e-ec34-11db-a12e-000b5df10621 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.ft.com |language=en-GB}}

• Won an Emmy Award for the children's series Reading Rainbow
• First award from President Ronald Reagan.{{cite web|title=The cable guy: David C McCourt on Ireland's broadband future|url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/david-c-mccourt-enet-interview-national-broadband-plan|website=Silicon Republic|date=3 August 2016 }}
• First 'Economist in Residence' at the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.{{cite web|title=How to succeed in today's media economy|url=http://news.usc.edu/31779/how-to-succeed-in-today-s-media-economy/|website=USC News|date=12 April 2011 }}
• Selected as "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young LLP.{{cite web|title=RCN Chairman and CEO David C. McCourt Named 'Entrepreneur of the Year' by Ernst & Young|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rcn-chairman-and-ceo-david-c-mccourt-named-entrepreneur-of-the-year-by-ernst--young-74865782.html|website=PR Newswire|date=18 June 1999}}
• Named "Top Entrepreneur" by the Harvard Business School Club of New York.{{cite web|title=Harvard Business School Club Selects David C. McCourt, Chairman/CEO of RCN Corporation, as Top Entrepreneur|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harvard-business-school-club-selects-david-c-mccourt-chairmanceo-of-rcn-corporation-as-top-entrepreneur-75012077.html|website=PR Newswire}}
• Won gold medal from the American Irish Historical Society.{{cite web|title=American Irish Historical Society|url=http://aihs.org/our-sponsors/|website=American Irish Historical Society}}
• Received an award for Outstanding Alumni Entrepreneur from Georgetown University.{{cite web|title=ANNOUNCED: 2016 GEORGETOWN OUTSTANDING ALUMNI ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR|url=http://www.hoyapreneurs.org/new-blog-1/2016/4/13/announced2016georgetownentrepreneursoftheyear|website=Hoyapreneurs|accessdate=12 April 2016}}
• Named the inaugural Executive in Residence for Entrepreneurial Economics and Innovation from Georgetown University.{{cite web|title=GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY APPOINTS DAVID C. MCCOURT TO GROW ENTREPRENEURIAL CREDENTIALS|url=http://startuphoyas.com/2016/georgetown-university-appoints-david-c-mccourt-to-grow-entrepreneurial-credentials/|website=Startup Hoyas|accessdate=19 October 2016}}
• Received the Science Foundation Ireland annual medal for outstanding contribution to technology and innovation.{{cite web|title=St. Patrick's Day Science Medal Recipients Announced|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0314/947411-st-patricks-day-science-medal-recipients-announced//|website=RTE|date=14 March 2018 |accessdate=14 March 2018}}
• Honorary Doctorate Degree in Economic Science from University College Dublin for contribution to technology and innovation.{{cite web|url=https://businessandfinance.com/news/ucd-recognises-david-mccourts-lifetime-in-citizen-diplomacy/|title=UCD recognises David McCourt's "lifetime in citizen diplomacy"|date=15 December 2022}}
• Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.{{Cite web |title=Council on Foreign Relations |url=https://www.cfr.org/membership/roster |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en}}
• Recognized by the Tip O’Neill Diaspora Awards for outstanding services to Ireland.{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2024-08-27 |title=Entrepreneur David McCourt is first awardee for Donegal's Tip O'Neill Award |url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2024/08/27/entrepreneur-david-mccourt-is-first-awardee-for-donegals-tip-oneill-award/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Donegal Daily |language=en-US}}

McCourt resides in rural Ireland and Florida.{{cite web|title=David McCourt explains why micro-working is vital, and why he's so disappointed by Trump and Clinton|url=http://www.cityam.com/246511/david-mccourt-explains-why-micro-working-vital-and-why-hes|website=City A.M.}}

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Category:Chief executives in the technology industry

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Category:People from Watertown, Massachusetts