Derry businessman Philip O’Doherty has announced he will step down from the engineering group he founded over four decades ago, marking the end of an era in UK and Irish switchgear manufacturing. His retirement at the close of 2025 comes four years after the sale of his Donegal-based firm, E+I Engineering, to US infrastructure solutions group Vertiv in a deal valued at around $2 billion (£1.45 billion), including approximately $1.17 billion in cash.

Following the acquisition, Mr O’Doherty remained managing director, guiding the business through its integration into Vertiv while maintaining its operational momentum. Vertiv described him as “a visionary leader in our industry,” noting that his entrepreneurial spirit and technical expertise have left a lasting impact on the sector.

A Queen’s University graduate, O’Doherty began his career at Dupont in Campsie before founding E+I Engineering in Burnfoot in 1986. Over nearly 40 years, he built the company into the largest electrical switchgear manufacturer in the UK and Ireland, employing more than 2,000 people, primarily in the north-west.

Under his leadership, E+I Engineering became a benchmark for innovation and quality in switchgear, establishing a strong reputation across Europe and creating a platform for future growth under Vertiv’s ownership. O’Doherty’s tenure illustrates the long-term value of combining technical excellence with entrepreneurial vision, shaping both the company and the wider industrial sector.

His retirement closes a defining chapter in Northern Ireland’s industrial history but leaves the group well-positioned for continued success within Vertiv’s global operations.

Read the full article to see how Philip O’Doherty’s legacy shaped E+I Engineering and influenced the wider switchgear industry.