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Hugh McGrath, Head of Corporate Services Ireland, IQ-EQ

What’s in a name? For IQ-EQ, a company that has been operating from Shannon for 36 years, the name says it all. Thoughtfully chosen, it reflects a core belief that success comes from balancing intellectual quotient (IQ) with emotional quotient (EQ). This dual focus defines the company’s culture and approach, combining sharp analytical thinking with genuine personal engagement.

A meeting with the company’s head of corporate services in Ireland, Hugh McGrath, exemplifies how this is enabling IQ-EQ to successfully deliver its services to a global client base.

“We strongly believe that valuing both IQ and EQ is essential for our people, our clients, and our business. IQ gives us the ability to understand complex information and provide insightful solutions. EQ gives us the ability to engage on a personal level and bring out the best in people.”

A leading global investor services group with an unrivalled offering to meet the administration, compliance and reporting needs of the investment sector worldwide, IQ-EQ operates in twenty-five jurisdictions, employing close to 6,000 people. It’s a business that operates in three main segments – Fund and Asset Managers (FAM), Assets Owners (AO), and Debt, Capital Markets and Corporate (DCMC).  Its Shannon business focuses primarily on the DCMC segment.

Concentrating initially on providing management services, such as accounting and tax support, payroll, company secretarial and registered office support for international companies setting up in Ireland, particularly in the aircraft leasing sector, IQ-EQ is no longer sector-specific. Its client base encompasses pharmaceuticals, software, securitisation and special purpose vehicles (SPVs), aviation, real estate, distribution and manufacturing.

This expanded sectoral spread is mirrored in its service provision which now includes assisting with directorships, registered office, company secretarial services, accounting and administration, order processing and inventory management, payroll, tax services, various trustee and nominee roles and statutory and regulatory processing.

As McGrath explains: “Regardless of sector, every company setting up in Ireland must comply with Irish law. That means they need the core services of a registered office, resident directors, company secretaries, accounting support, tax compliance, and sometimes even payroll solutions.

“An international company looking to establish a presence in Ireland may not have the resource bandwidth or expertise to navigate the intricacies of dealing with the Companies Registration Office (CRO), Irish Revenue, or banks. That’s where we come in. We help businesses, particularly foreign direct investment (FDI) companies, navigate what can be a complex regulatory landscape. Our interaction with clients often starts at their initial visitation itineraries. Our focus is on ensuring that a company is in good stead with the Irish authorities, freeing them up to concentrate on revenue generating activities. Our linkage with a company can start at the initial incubation period and it can lead to long-term partnerships as our clients value the services we offer.”

IQ-EQ’s work is sector-agnostic. Whether the client is launching a consumer tech company or setting up an investment platform, the core requirements remain the same: governance, compliance, and operational support. What varies is the complexity and profile of the clients. Larger companies may have internal teams but still need local expertise for strategic support.

That’s where IQ-EQ’s Shannon-based team of qualified administrators, accountants and company secretaries comes into play. With a wealth of in-depth experience in FDI as well as capital markets and structured finance, and with senior team members each having a minimum on 20 years’ industry experience, clients are assured of exceptional guidance. Across Ireland, IQ-EQ employs approximately 150 people, combining Shannon’s specialised administration and cross-departmental expertise with Dublin’s office working across its FAM and DCMC segments.

Head of corporate services in Ireland, Hugh McGrath is well qualified to lead his team. A Limerick native and former captain of Young Munster RFC, Hugh trained as a chartered accountant with BDO in 2008 before heading off on a round-the-world trip through Asia and Australasia. He joined IQ-EQ in 2009 as a manager and steadily worked his way up to now leading the company’s operations in Ireland.

“The company has changed massively since I joined, growing organically and, through strategic acquisitions, becoming part of a sizeable and rapidly expanding global group. For me, it’s almost been like working four different careers. But what has stayed the same is our mission: helping international companies successfully land and operate in Ireland.”

Reflecting on his career to date, he would not change a thing. “You can’t change the past. You learn from your mistakes and that’s part of the fun. His life is filled with fun and laughter. Settled in Limerick with his partner Niamh and their two children, his mornings start at 5.45am with a run or a gym session before heading to Shannon. His spare time is spent coaching a children’s underage team in rugby or else sailing, swimming or kayaking on Lough Derg in the summer months and now even trying his hand at cooking.

Ask him what keeps him inspired at work and the answer is simple: “The people, the variety, and the ambition of the business. There’s always more to do and that’s where membership of Shannon Chamber is beneficial.

“It ensures that we’re linked in with the local business community, to share knowledge, attend excellent events, and keep up to date with issues and opportunities in the locality and wider area. Shannon is an amazing strategic location. It has excellent infrastructure, an established business ecosystem and access to great talent from universities.

“Our foundations in Shannon have been the cornerstone of our growth throughout the rest of the country. While the ultimate ownership of our business has changed over time, and our scope of services has broadened, Shannon remains a key location for IQ-EQ today.”