Experience That Creates Better Outcomes
Steven McKenna founded Stratavera to help ambitious business owners build stronger, more valuable businesses. Drawing on more than two decades of executive leadership and M&A experience, he provides experienced Strategic & M&A Advisory to help clients maximise the value of their life's work.
GET TO KNOW STEVEN
Trusted Advisor to Ambitious Business Owners
Steven founded Stratavera after more than two decades leading, growing, acquiring and selling businesses. Having served as both CEO and CFO with some of Ireland's leading businesses, he understands the opportunities, pressures and difficult decisions that business owners face. Today, he works alongside ambitious business owners, providing experienced Strategic & M&A Advisory to help them build stronger, more valuable businesses and achieve exceptional long-term outcomes.
Exceptional Leadership Experience
Business owners value Steven's ability to bring independent perspective, commercial judgement and practical experience to their most important decisions, helping them build stronger, more valuable businesses and achieve exceptional long-term outcomes.
FROM ACQUISITION TO EXIT
Proven Track Record in Value Creation
As former CEO and CFO of Sherry FitzGerald Group, Steven led strategic acquisitions, digital innovation and successful business exits that created long-term shareholder value. His executive leadership spanned a diverse portfolio of property advisory, financial services and international real estate businesses across Ireland and the UK, providing first-hand experience of building, growing, acquiring and successfully exiting businesses.
Highlights include:
Strategic Acquisitions
Led and integrated numerous strategic acquisitions, accelerating growth, strengthening market position and creating long-term shareholder value.
Marsh & Parsons London
Played a key role in the sale of Marsh & Parsons to LSL plc in 2011 for €62 million.
Cushman & Wakefield Ireland
Led the sale of Cushman & Wakefield Ireland to its global parent company in 2018.
Sherry FitzGerald Group
Led the sale of Sherry FitzGerald Group to CastleGate Investments for €50 million in 2022.
Digital Innovation
Led the development and launch of mySherryFitz and mySherryFitzMortgage, strengthening customer engagement and supporting the Group's long-term digital strategy.
Deep Commercial Expertise
Steven's commercial perspective has been shaped by executive leadership, professional services and international investment banking experience. Having worked with organisations including EY, Macquarie Bank and Sherry FitzGerald Group, he brings broad commercial insight across real estate, professional services, financial services, technology, retail and logistics. His ability to quickly understand business models, identify opportunities and provide independent commercial judgement enables him to offer practical advice that helps business owners make better commercial decisions.
The Stratavera Philosophy
Steven founded Stratavera because he believes the best business outcomes are earned long before a transaction begins. By helping ambitious business owners make better commercial decisions, build stronger, more valuable businesses and prepare with confidence, he creates the conditions for exceptional outcomes.
QUALIFIED LEADERSHIP
Professional Qualifications & Memberships
Steven's executive experience is complemented by internationally recognised professional qualifications and memberships across finance, leadership and corporate governance, providing clients with trusted commercial advice backed by both experience and expertise.
Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA)
Master’s in Business, University College Cork
Diploma in Corporate Finance, Chartered Accountants Ireland
Executive Certificate – “Competing in the Age of AI”, Harvard Business School
Executive Certificate – “High Performance Leadership”, IMD Switzerland
Member, YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) – Global Network of Chief Executives
Member, Institute of Directors (IoD)
PCF‑2A Approved – Central Bank of Ireland​
PRIDE IN NUMBERS
25+
Years professional experience
€250m+
Deal value executed
30+
M&A transactions
40,000+
Hours advising & leading businesses
Discover the Stratavera Approach
Every client engagement follows the same philosophy - bringing clarity to today's opportunities, creating momentum behind the right priorities and delivering exceptional outcomes. Explore how Stratavera helps ambitious business owners build stronger, more valuable businesses.