The tribal leader in ancient Ireland was chosen for his wisdom and compassion as well as for his courage and leadership. As the Catholic Church was persecuted in Ireland, so too was the Chief Brehon. As early as the 14th century the Chief Brehon was outlawed where the English held sway. Neither the faith nor the leadership of the Brehon, however, could be eradicated. The Great Irish Fair honors one who exemplifies and carries on the tradition of the Chief Brehon – the tradition of courage and compassion, leadership and wisdom.
Businessman Kenneth D. Daly is the president of the New York business of National Grid, which serves 4 million natural gas and electric customers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island and Upstate New York.
Twenty-seven years ago, he joined National Grid’s predecessor, Brooklyn Union and later known as KeySpan, as a management trainee in the customer relations department.
He was recently based in London, where he served for two years as global financial controller. He previously serves as CFO of the U.S. and U.K. gas distribution businesses, and has held numerous positions in finance, human resources and customer relations.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, he attended Resurrection School, Gerritsen Beach, and Brooklyn Technical H.S., and then graduated from St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, with a bachelor’s degree in English. He has earned a master’s in business administration in finance from St. John’s University, and a master’s in human resource management from New York University.
He achieved the distinguished chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation in 2002, and completed Harvard University’s advanced management program in 2014.
He is a member of the St. Francis College Board of Trustees and has served as an adjunct professor, teaching human resource, business and finance courses for 20 years. He has been the director of the St. John’s University Executive-in-Residence program since 1992. He is the past chairman of the Kingsborough Community College Board of Directors, and a former member of the Junior Achievement Board of Directors and United Way Campaign co-chair.
He is a member of the David Rockefeller ‘Fellows Program,’ the Long Island Energeia Partnership, the British American Business Board, the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center Board, the Business Council of New York State Board and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Board.
Daly and his wife Laurie have four children.
