Michael O'Leary is the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish low cost airline Ryanair. After taking over the reins of the company in 1991, he has transformed the once ailing operation into one of the worlds most profitable and valuable airlines, using a low-cost model similar to that of Southwest Airlines of the United States.

O'Leary has a somewhat feiry reputation among both his peers in the airline industry and with his employees. His no-nonsense management style, and his scathing criticisms of competitors, airport authorities and governments have now become legendary. In 2004, in what many saw as a publicity stunt, he had his Mercedes re-registered as a taxi so that he could legally make use of Dublin's bus lanes to speed his car journeys around the city.

The dissolution of Ireland's state owned airport authority Aer Rianta, and the shake-up of traditional "full-service" airlines are among his most well known high profile demands.