Sean McCool Obituary, Founder And Member Of Irish Air Cargo Institute Has Died At 92

Sean McCool Obituary, Death – Sean McCool, chairman of GSSA International Airline Marketing (IAM) in Ireland, has passed away, Air Cargo News regretfully reports. McCool, whose career spanned more than 70 years, passed away at the age of 92.

He began his career in the 1950s, working his way up through the ranks at Seaboard & Western Airlines, Brinks (which he brought to Ireland), and Aer Lingus commercial cargo, where he was instrumental in establishing the company’s successful cargo operation in Ireland and Europe. As a connector of influential figures in worldwide media and government, he was also instrumental in the development of the Shannon Trade Zone.

He was on the marketing council of the Confederation of Irish Industries and, in the 1960s, founded a series of specialized enterprises in the Shannon Free Zone, including Shanex and South West Trading. In the decades that followed, he served as chairman of Ryanair Executive Jet Terminals and on the board of directors for Havelet Holdings. After that, Hudson Offshore Holdings sent him to South Africa to serve as general manager. He founded the Ireland South Africa Business Association in 1983 after being appointed Honorary Trade Commissioner for the Republic of South Africa in Ireland.

Sean founded IAM in 1989, and since then, it has expanded to account for over 25% of Ireland’s air cargo exports. After handing up executive control to his son Ian, he remained with the company as chairman. McCool was a fellow of the IIFA, the Irish Institute of Freight Forwarders, and a founding member of the Irish Air Cargo Institute. He has served as vice president of the European forwarder organization Clecat and as a council member of FIATA, the Irish Exporters Association.

“Sean had an extraordinary life and career in business that lasted over 70 years,” IAM remarked. He was a tremendous thinker and strategist, years ahead of his time, and he did what he loved every day. He was the type of person who would seek out and create new chances, and then invite people to join him on the journey. His infectious enthusiasm, can-do spirit, and warm grin left an impression on everyone he met. Always considerate and receptive to others, he saw each interaction as a potential for new relationship and growth.