Padraic Fallon, the chairman and editor-in-chief of Euromoney Institutional Investor, was the person who highlighted to me the importance of being first. "Write something new, Abigail," he would say. "Always try to be first with your angle or story. Go out and meet new people."
Padraic died in October of cancer. Until the last few months, he was closely involved in running the firm. Padraic loved life and he relished our business. At the age of 66, he was too young to die.
Padraic was my boss, my mentor and my friend. We first met when I was a 26-year-old graduate trainee at Merrill Lynch. And during my 20-year career in the City, Padraic would make sure that we had regular lunches at the Savoy Grill. I was busy doing deals and running a team but somehow it never crossed my mind that I could not spare the time to enjoy several hours in Padraic’s company.
The same was true for many bankers much more important than me. He mingled effortlessly and was an integral part of the investment banking scene. I remember how when Euromoney started its Global Borrowers’ Forum, he would make his rounds: visiting various senior bankers to ask for sponsorship.