The Deal
The Johnstown Collection has signed Johnny Sexton to a leadership-advisory partnership. The group announced the deal on Thursday 15 October.
Sexton is the former Ireland rugby captain and a British & Irish Lion. He will advise the Collection’s senior leadership team.
The group said the partnership strengthens its position with international organisations, leadership teams and corporate clients. It sets an internal focus on team behaviours, culture, accountability and continuous improvement.
Leadership Sessions and Selected Engagements
Sexton will provide strategic advisory support through a number of leadership sessions and selected engagements each year. He will share insights on leadership, culture and high-performance environments, and the group ties that work to its push with corporate, MICE and high-performing organisations.
He will also contribute to discussions on the continued evolution of sports and training facilities at The Johnstown Estate in Enfield, Co. Meath.
The group frames the work as a search for the next 5 per cent of performance. Sexton said high performance comes down to consistently getting the small things right, creating clarity, and building an environment where people are aligned and accountable.
The Three Properties
The Johnstown Collection takes in three hotels: The Johnstown Estate in Enfield, Co. Meath, Trim Castle Hotel in Trim, Co. Meath, and Mount Juliet Estate in Co. Kilkenny.
Mount Juliet is a five-star estate hotel above the River Nore with a restored Georgian Manor at its centre, per the estate’s own site. Trim Castle Hotel is a four-star property on Castle Street in the Boyne Valley, overlooking Trim Castle.
Anthony Smiddy on the Deal
Anthony Smiddy, group general manager of The Johnstown Collection, said the parallels between an elite sporting environment and the challenges facing leadership teams in business were clear from the first conversation.
“We want to constantly challenge ourselves, challenge our teams and continue to deliver at a high level for our guests and clients,” he said. “Johnny brings a unique perspective and wealth of experience that will help us realise the ambition we have for The Johnstown Collection over the coming years.”
The €39.5 Million Programme
The group puts the investment programme at more than €39.5 million invested and planned across the portfolio. The announcement splits it into €8 million for the restoration of the Manor House at Mount Juliet Estate, €26 million for a development programme at The Johnstown Estate, and €5.5 million for a programme at Trim Castle Hotel.
The Johnstown Estate figure differs by source. The group announcement says €26 million. The estate’s own project page describes an exciting €25 million expansion with 90 new guest bedrooms and a new Italian restaurant, both launching in September 2027.
That page gives the restaurant as a 180-seater in one paragraph and a 145-seater in another.
What the Group Has Confirmed
The Collection confirmed the partnership, the advisory remit and the investment programme. It has put no value on the Sexton appointment.