Paddy McNally

Patrick Sean McNally (born 20 December 1937) is an Irish businessman, former racing driver, and socialite. He was chief executive of Allsport Management, a Swiss-based company part of the Formula One Group, which controlled Formula One advertising and hospitality via the Paddock Club.

Early life
McNally was born on 20 December 1937, reportedly in County Donegal, Ireland. He was the fourth and youngest son of G/Capt. Dr. Patrick McNally. He grew up on a farm in County Monaghan and was educated at Stonyhurst College. He initially worked in London as a Grand Prix reporter.

Career
Beginning his career as a motorsports journalist for Autosport magazine, McNally was also involved in sports car racing in the 1960s. He then moved to Switzerland and worked for Philip Morris's Marlboro as a sponsorship consultant. Later he was a driver manager of Niki Lauda and James Hunt, respectively.

McNally began working with Bernie Ecclestone in the late 1970s. In 1984, he set up Allsport Management SA, a company which provided corporate hospitality and trackside advertising for Formula One events. Based in Geneva, Allsport and related Allsopp Parker & Marsh (APM), registered in Ireland, owned the trackside advertising rights at Formula One circuits and operated the Formula One Paddock Club, the Grand Prix hospitality provider.

In 2006, he sold Allsport Management to CVC for an estimated £300 million.

Personal life
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, McNally has a net worth of £510 million.

McNally was formerly married to the daughter of Ken Downing with whom, before her death in 1980, he had two sons. He dated Sarah Ferguson (later Duchess of York) between 1982 and 1985. The pair remain close friends. He has homes in the Côte d'Azur and Switzerland, notably chalets in Verbier. He also owns Warneford Place, Wiltshire, the former home of Ian Fleming. In 2004, the property was burgled.