Patrick Masterson, managing director of Magnet Plus, has built a career spanning over two decades in commercial strategy across finance, retail, healthcare, and technology. His move three years ago from senior roles in Irish enterprises to leading Ireland’s largest enterprise connectivity provider came at a key moment. The company now supports 7,000 customers, including 70% of the world’s top tech firms operating in Ireland. With more than 20 years of experience across commercial, sales, and marketing, Masterson’s reputation for driving commercial activities and improving overall business performance is a key asset to Magnet Plus.
His appointment followed a proven track record in delivering commercial results, including roles as commercial director and chief commercial officer in leading Irish companies. Masterson’s journey began in London, where nine years in finance developed his expertise in analytics and governance. His return to Ireland, however, marked a deliberate shift toward commercial leadership, driven by a desire to create growth rather than merely analyze it. “Having worked across both financial and commercial disciplines gave me a rounded view of how businesses truly operate and ultimately equipped me with the insight and leadership experience to step into,” he says.
This dual background also equipped him with an MBA from Henley Business School in the UK, reinforcing his ability to bridge strategic vision with operational delivery. Magnet Plus, a division of Speed Fibre Group, specializes in cloud-based voice solutions, managed services, and enterprise connectivity. The company distinguishes itself through its customer-centric approach, embodied in its tagline, People Powered Connectivity. This reflects a commitment to accessibility—ensuring customers can always connect with a real person—and an unwavering standard for service reliability.
As Ireland’s leading provider of enterprise-level connectivity, established in 2004, Magnet Plus delivers internet access, data connectivity, voice, and managed services to businesses across Ireland and Europe, serving as a one-stop partner for secure, always-on communications infrastructure. Expansion remains a core focus, particularly after the acquisition of BT Communications Ireland Ltd.. The strategy aims to solidify Magnet Plus’s position as the preferred partner for scalable, resilient connectivity solutions, including Dedicated Internet Access, SIP, and Hosted Voice.
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As businesses increasingly depend on uninterrupted infrastructure, the demand for such services continues to rise. Under the parent company Cordiant Digital Infrastructure, Magnet Plus follows a structured Buy, Build & Grow approach, balancing innovation with operational efficiency. The company’s growth plans also include expanding its enterprise customer base and investing in high-performance solutions like Business Broadband and Managed Services, ensuring businesses have future-ready connectivity. The most significant challenge in scaling, Masterson acknowledges, lies in talent acquisition.
Rapid growth requires continuous assessment, flexibility, and difficult decisions. “While it’s difficult to see so many young Irish professionals abroad, I firmly believe Ireland Inc will benefit enormously when that global experience returns home,” he says. People are our greatest asset, and creating the right environment for them to succeed is central to how I lead. The acceleration of digital transformation has intensified these demands, pushing companies to adopt remote operations and new workflows almost immediately. Despite progress, Irish businesses still hold untapped potential, especially as AI redefines productivity and decision-making processes.
Masterson notes that while digital transformation accelerated during the pandemic, many firms still need to fully leverage AI’s potential, particularly in streamlining operations and enhancing connectivity resilience. Masterson’s leadership philosophy draws heavily from his mentors, emphasizing vision, discipline, and relentless effort. Yet, he insists on simplicity as a foundational principle. “If you can’t explain something clearly or deliver it simply, you risk losing your audience, missing your objectives and disengaging your team,” he says. Trust, alignment, and execution stem from clarity, he argues. For those entering the workforce, his advice is straightforward: work hard, keep upskilling, and find a mentor.
Many of his own mentors, successful Irish entrepreneurs, taught him that vision, focus, and an unrelenting work ethic are essential, lessons that have shaped his pragmatic, outcomes-focused approach to business. Reflecting on his career, Masterson wishes he had spent more time abroad earlier. “Ireland’s competitiveness will strengthen when more professionals bring global experience back home,” he observes. To his 21-year-old self, he would offer one final piece of counsel: keep learning, seek guidance, and never lose sight of the importance of enjoyment in the journey.