NI business mourns the loss of First Derivatives founder Brian Conlon

The Northern Ireland tech and business community has been paying its respects following the death of First Derivatives founder Brian Conlon.

Few people have had the scale of impact on Northern Ireland's business community that Brian Conlon managed, founding the Newry-based FinTech firm First Derivatives in 1996 and growing it into a business worth over £1bn and an employer of over 2,000 staff. Brian continued to operate as Chief Executive Officer of First Derivatives even after being diagnosed with cancer back in May 17th this year, and passed away on July 28th at the age of 53.

People from across the NI business world have been paying their respects following the news of Mr Conlon's death. Tom Kelly wrote a great piece in the Irish News on Brian's early business days and high ambitions for Newry that helped lift the area out of unemployment, saying "It is still hard to believe that this giant of a man would ever succumb to illness. In life there seemed nothing that he couldn’t achieve."

First Derivatives has remained a fiercely local employer throughout its existence, keeping its headquarters in Newry and even bringing international hires to work there for their first few months. Newry Chamber President Paul Convery said "Brian put the city of Newry on the global map. He was an inspirational business leader with his heart in Newry but most of all, he was a family man and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

First Derivatives Non-Executive Chairman Seamus Keating has now been appointed Executive Chairman, and commented on Brian's passing: "Brian built a world-class business in First Derivatives. His drive, ambition and determination inspired all who had the privilege to work with him. This news is a profound shock to all of us. We offer Brian’s family our sincerest condolences and ask for privacy on their behalf at this sad and most difficult of times."

Sources: Irish News, BBC News, First Derivatives, Newry.ie, Belfast Telegraph