Georgetown University Appoints David C. McCourt to Grow Entrepreneurial Credentials

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McCourt, who has bought or sold 20 companies in nine countries, is widely recognized as a transformational force for his contributions to the telecommunications sector. He becomes the latest addition to Georgetown University's prestigious Entrepreneurship Advisory Group.

As a member of the hand-selected group of business leaders renowned for their entrepreneurial talents, McCourt will support the University's strategy to be a global leader in entrepreneurship education, which will include contributing his advice and insight to students of the esteemed McDonough School of Business.

Commenting on his appointment, McCourt said: "I am incredibly excited to have this opportunity to work with the students at Georgetown University and learn more about the ideas they are forging and projects being developed.  Some of the most innovative and successful businesses in the world have spun out of university initiatives and Georgetown is really at the forefront of recognizing the importance of encouraging, attracting and empowering entrepreneurial talents".

"Taking this role I am hoping to help the students seize opportunities, solve problems, create wealth and contribute to the well-being of communities around the world". 

McCourt's appointment follows a long career of innovation across the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) industries. Born and raised in Boston, McCourt found his feet as an entrepreneur in the early 1980s, developing and deploying breakthrough methods of laying cable systems, which would later be adopted as industry standards. By the late 1980s, McCourt had gained a reputation as a telecoms visionary with the creation of Corporate Communications Network, the first competitive telephone company in the United States. Corporate Communications Network went on to merge with MFS Communications and was later sold to WorldCom for $14.3 billion.

In an illustrious career, McCourt also made his name in media, founding the highly-successful television station Discovery TV in the Caribbean nation of Grenada, as well as serving as an executive producer for several prime-time TV series, including documentaries with Michael Douglas and Angelina Jolie to examine the global impact of conflict on children around the world in partnership with the United Nations. His role as producer for the educational series Reading Rainbow also earnt him numerous accolades including an Emmy Award.

His latest ventures have seen him continue to raise his business interests on a global scale. Earlier in 2016, McCourt led a joint venture with Saudi Arabia based King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, marking the first joint venture to be made between a publicly-owned Saudi organization and a foreign enterprise following the Kingdom's Vision 2030 announcement. He also launched ALTV.com, a new digital TV platform which seeks to give a voice to young creatives throughout the developing world. McCourt also spearheaded a consortium currently shortlisted for the Irish Government's transformational €1.5bn National Broadband Plan, which will provide connectivity to those living outside of major population centres.

Jeff Reid, Director of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative added:  "Mr McCourt has built a hugely successful career being at the forefront of innovation, using his natural instincts as an entrepreneur to pioneer major industry breakthroughs.

"It is a huge honor for Georgetown University to welcome Mr McCourt to our Entrepreneurship program, which will offer our students the unique opportunity to share his insights and expertise."

SOURCE Granahan McCourt Capital