MIchael O'Driscoll

Michael is a globally connected senior executive and company director with extensive franchise leadership sector experience. He has been a CEO, COO or Board Director of 5 different franchises including one franchise system with over 300 franchise units spanning three countries. His functional expertise is in operations, marketing, and franchise development.

He has experience managing businesses up to $1.2 billion in revenue. He has held full P&L responsibility, defined, and led company strategy, managed investment raising, business sales and acquisition. Michael launched Citibank Australia’s franchise finance business. He developed their franchise risk rating methodology and wrote $400 million of loans to thousands of franchisees and hundreds of franchisors. 

Michael has broad business model and sector experience which covers both B2B and B2C including the building industry, building materials supply, financial services, online fashion & eyewear, co-working, home services, television shopping and digital start-ups. He also co-founded a specialty retail business, café and cooking school in New Zealand and co-produced two television series about food and cooking. He has worked with franchise brand such as Nu-Steel Homes, Citibank, Placemakers, David Reid Homes, Gutter-Vac, Mr Rental and Fastway Couriers. 

Michael works with franchise clients from around the world to help them with cross-border expansion, cultural improvement or integration projects that bring acquisitions into a business or help divest business units. He also works with founders on exit strategy. Michael has project management professionals across Australia, New Zealand, North America and Europe to provide hands on support for clients to ensure project outcomes are achieved on time and on budget.

 Michael is passionate about ensuring a business is managed with people and customers at the center of the organization. His core strengths are his ability to connect with people, develop relationships, his resilience and ability to be persuasive with good humor. 

Michael is a regular columnist for Global Franchise magazine. He is a Certified Franchise Executive and holds an MBA on International Franchise Strategy. Michael has also served as member of the Board of Directors of the Franchise Council of Australia, and as a Director of Booksellers New Zealand. 

Michael is presently based in New York City with his partner, Janice. When he can, he travels extensively for business and pleasure with most of his time spent in Australia, the USA and Canada.