SPEAKER Profile: Brendan Mcgurgan
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
(1) Scaling Coach (2) Author (3) Investor
Brendan McGurgan is a global business leader, coach, and investor passionate about building profitable, purposeful, and scalable businesses. He believes that if you have a remarkable product or service, you have an obligation to scale it, to bring it to the world with intention and impact.
As CEO of CDE Group for 12 years, Brendan led the company through a remarkable transformation, achieving 25x revenue growth. Under his leadership, the business generated almost $750 million in cumulative revenue, expanded from 15 to nearly 700 employees across six continents, and exported to over 100 countries.
In 2020, Brendan co-founded Simple Scaling — an integrated ecosystem that inspires, connects, and enables ambitious SMB leaders to scale with purpose. The platform includes executive coaching, growth capital investment, and specialist recruitment solutions. He is co-author of the Amazon best-seller Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business, described by Kirkus Reviews as “comprehensive, concrete counsel for business leaders.”
Brendan also hosts the acclaimed ScaleX™ Insider podcast, ranked in the top 2% of podcasts globally. Through candid conversations with thought leaders and high-growth entrepreneurs, he explores the mindset and mechanics of scaling with purpose.
A Chartered Accountant and Chartered Director, Brendan was named the UK’s Young Director of the Year and Overall Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors in 2016. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and trusted coach to CEOs and founders of scaling businesses around the world.
Beyond business, Brendan is a lifelong athlete and wellness advocate. A 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and former triathlete (finisher of the Mallorca 70.3 Ironman), he also trained as a Wim Hof Method instructor and integrates breathwork and resilience training into his coaching programs.
What others say about Brendan: “Brendan and his team at Simple Scaling have created the most comprehensive thought leadership and programming around scaling I’ve ever seen. He’s not only done it, he helps others do it, too. Most importantly, he’s a great person you’d be lucky to have in your corner.”
- Professor Ryan Gottfredson, California State University
“Brendan brings a rare blend of business acumen, depth of care, and powerful coaching tools. He helped me rediscover clarity, expand my network globally, and fall in love with the mornings again. An absolute legend…and yes, the breathwork is transformational!”
- Jack Bourke, Former Senior Executive, Digicel Group