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The 100 Most Influential Irish Americans in Business: J. McHale – A. McKenna

January 2000

October 27, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Judith A. McHale

President &COO

Discovery Communications, Inc.

Revenue: over $1 billion

Employees: 4,000

Judith McHale brings to her position a personal commitment to using the power of the information age to improve the lives of people around the world as well as a dedication to achieving progress in the workplace.

The president and chief operating officer at Discovery since November 1995, McHale is responsible for overseeing all of the company’s operating business units and is the spearhead for developing Discovery as a global media force. The Discovery Channel, the most dominant of the company’s many media brands, is distributed in Ireland via a British television channel.

McHale joined Discovery Communications in 1987 as vice president and general counsel. Previously she served as general counsel for MTV Networks.

A graduate of Fordham Law School, McHale began her legal career with Battle, Fowler in New York. In June 1997, she was appointed to the Maryland State Board of Education for a four-year term. She also serves as a board member of Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO), Crestar Bank’s Greater Washington Region, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company and is on the board of governors of Grace Episcopal Day School. She is also vice chairwoman of Cable in the Classroom.

McHale was born in New York City and received her undergraduate degree in politics from Britain’s University of Nottingham. She is a second-generation Irish American with roots in County Mayo and Listowel, County Kerry. She is married and has two sons.

Andrew J. McKenna

Chairman &CEO

Schwarz

Revenue: $450 million

Employees: 910

Andrew McKenna is chairman and chief executive officer of Schwarz, an international distributor of paper packaging and allied products. Schwarz is also a printer, producer and converter of paper products with facilities throughout the U.S. as well as in Canada and the UK.

McKenna also serves as a director of Aon Corporation; the Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc.; McDonald’s Corporation; and the Tribune Company, among others.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in business administration and marketing, he also earned his Juris Doctor from DePaul University Law School. He is also chairman of the board of trustees at Notre Dame.

A second-generation Irish American with roots on his father’s side in County Monaghan and on his mother’s side in County Mayo, McKenna is a director of the American Ireland Fund and a board member of the Irish Fellowship of Chicago. He and his wife Joan have seven children and 20 grandchildren.♦

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