Grinds 360 co-founder Brendan Kavanagh sells stake after boardroom dispute
Brendan Kavanagh has sold their stake in online tuition company Grinds 360 to other investors and left the board. The Irish Times links this to a September dispute that saw CEO Rónán Murdock suspended and reinstated.
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The story, neutrally told
Grinds 360 co-founder Brendan Kavanagh has sold their stake in the online tuition company to its other investors, including CEO Rónán Murdock, the Irish Independent reported. Irish IndependentRC “has sold his stake in the online tuition venture to its other investors, including CEO Rónán Murdock” Read at Irish Independent ↗ The Independent understands the sale was for a significant seven-figure sum and that Murdock is now the biggest single shareholder; it put the stake at 26.4pc, while the Irish Times, citing the company's last financial returns, said Kavanagh and Murdock held 21.5 per cent each. Irish IndependentRC “sale of Brendan Kavanagh’s 26.4pc stake was for a significant seven-figure consideration” Read at Irish Independent ↗ The Irish TimesLC “Kavanagh and Murdock had 21.5 per cent of shares each” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Kavanagh, Dara Coyne, Simon Cosgrove and Richard O’Halloran resigned as directors, and an interim board of Murdock, accountant Ronan Lynch and Simmons & Simmons partner James McKnight was appointed. Irish IndependentRC “Dara Coyne, Brendan Kavanagh, Simon Cosgrove and Richard O’Halloran have resigned as directors” Read at Irish Independent ↗ The Irish TimesLC “joined an interim board with Murdock” Read at The Irish Times ↗
The Irish Times reported that the exit followed a power struggle: Murdock, after raising concerns about payments to Kavanagh's Olive companies, restricted payments from the company's bank account, and the board suspended Murdock as CEO on 8 September. The Irish TimesLC “Murdock was suspended as CEO by the board that morning.”“He arranged to restrict payments from the company’s bank account” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Shareholders then sought an emergency general meeting, and the company threatened High Court action; on 17 September Murdock told shareholders a resolution had been agreed and they had been reinstated. The Irish TimesLC “Murdock emailed shareholders to tell them that a “resolution” had been agreed.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ The Times said public filings showed almost €4 million was paid to Olive companies in the first two years; it understands the stake sale was part of a settlement. The Irish TimesLC “Public filings show almost €4 million was paid by My Grinds 360 Ltd to Olive companies”“as part of a settlement of their dispute, Kavanagh has agreed to sell his stake” Read at The Irish Times ↗
A joint statement said Kavanagh will focus on other ventures and both co-founders wish each other success; the Independent reports a spokesperson for Kavanagh declined to comment on the deal's details. Irish IndependentRC “A spokesman for Kavanagh declined to comment on the details of the deal directly.” Read at Irish Independent ↗ The Irish TimesLC “wish each other every success in their ventures going forward” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Grinds 360 will use an interim services agreement with Olive while building an in-house technical team, and reported revenue of €5.3m for the year to August 2026, up from about €1.8m. Irish IndependentRC “We are now putting in place an interim services agreement with the Olive Group”“Total revenue for the year to end August 2026 was €5.3m, compared with €1.8m” Read at Irish Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Investigative account of a boardroom power struggle, with the stake sale as its outcome.
- Emphasis
- Suspension and reinstatement of the CEO, payments of almost €4m to Olive companies, governance concerns, legal threats, cash and supplier-payment worries.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the reported seven-figure sale price.
- Charged language
- “power struggle”
- For example
-
“Power struggle over business backed by rugby stars leads to CEO’s suspension and reinstatement” — The Irish Times
“we’ve been regularly embarrassed by suppliers who had to chase us to get paid” — The Irish Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Business news of a founder's exit and a growing company, based on the shareholder circular and joint statement.
- Emphasis
- Seven-figure price, Murdock as biggest shareholder, board changes, rapid revenue growth and a €3.4m Ebitda forecast.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the CEO's suspension, the emergency shareholder meetings, governance concerns or payments to Olive companies.
- Charged language
- “fast-growing”
- For example
-
“both sides were pleased with the outcome of the transaction” — Irish Independent
“The company is forecasting earnings (Ebitda) of €3.4m for the 2026/27 financial year.” — Irish Independent
What every side reports
- Kavanagh has sold their stake and resigned as a director, along with Dara Coyne, Simon Cosgrove and Richard O'Halloran.
- Murdock remains CEO and an interim board with Ronan Lynch and James McKnight has been appointed.
- Grinds 360 will take an interim services agreement with Olive while building an in-house technical team.
- Revenue rose to €5.3m in the year to August 2026.
- Both outlets quote the same joint statement on the co-founders' parting.
Where accounts differ
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Size of Kavanagh's stake
- Left
- The Irish Times says the latest financial returns showed 21.5 per cent each for Kavanagh and Murdock.
- Right
- The Irish Independent says Kavanagh held 26.4pc, the same as Murdock.
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Nature of the exit
- Left
- Presents it as the outcome of a power struggle and settlement, including Murdock's suspension and reinstatement.
- Right
- Presents it as a stake sale with a board overhaul, with both sides said to be pleased, and does not mention the suspension.
Brendan Kavanagh person
Through a spokesperson and joint statement, Kavanagh declined to discuss the deal and is said to be concentrating on other ventures.
“A spokesman for Kavanagh declined to comment on the details of the deal directly.” — Irish Independent
Rónán Murdock person
Murdock told shareholders of the board changes and a transition away from Olive services; the Times reports they raised governance and spending concerns.
“Alongside this, Grinds360 is building an in-house technical support team” — Irish Independent
“a need for greater governance across the business from board controls, finances and performances” — The Irish Times
Grinds 360 organisation
The company describes the parting as amicable and cites strong growth.
“Both Brendan Kavanagh and Rónán Murdock, recognising the contribution of each” — Irish Independent
Left1 article
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Critical Reconstructs a governance dispute behind the exit, scrutinising payments to Kavanagh's companies.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Grinds 360 co-founder Brendan Kavanagh sells stake in fast-growing online platform
Neutral Reports the stake sale and board overhaul as a business transaction, with growth figures and an amicable joint statement.
- 1 Oct 12:28 First Irish IndependentRC Grinds 360 co-founder Brendan Kavanagh sells stake in fast-growing online platform
- 1 Oct 14:02 +1h 34m The Irish TimesLC Grinds 360: Power struggle over business backed by rugby stars leads to CEO’s suspension and reinstatement
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.