Patrick Sean McNally (born 20 December 1937)^[2] is an Irish businessman and former journalist. He was the founder and chief executive of Allsport Management, a Swiss-based company which controlled Formula One advertising and hospitality for the Paddock Club.^[3]

McNally was born on 20 December 1937^[2] in Stranorlar, County Donegal, Ireland.^[1][4][5] He grew up on a farm in County Monaghan^[6] and initially worked in London as a Grand Prix reporter.^[7]

Beginning his career as a motorsports journalist for Autosport magazine, McNally was also involved in sports car racing events in the 1960s. He then moved to Switzerland and worked for Philip Morris's Marlboro as a sponsorship consultant.^[7] Later, he was a driver manager of Niki Lauda and James Hunt respectively.^[5]

McNally began working with Bernie Ecclestone in the late 1970s.^[7] In 1984, he founded Allsport Management SA, a company which provided corporate hospitality and trackside advertising for Formula One events.^[8] Based in Geneva, Allsport and related Allsopp Parker & Marsh (APM), registered in Ireland,^[9] owned the trackside advertising rights at Formula One circuits and operated the Formula One Paddock Club, the Grand Prix hospitality provider.^[5]

In 2006, he sold Allsport Management to CVC for $334 million.^[4][10]

According to the Sunday Times Rich List, McNally has a net worth of £510 million.^[11]

McNally dated Sarah, Duchess of York.^[12][13][14] The pair remain close friends.^[15] He has homes in the Côte d'Azur and Switzerland, notably chalets in Verbier.^[16][17] He also owns Warneford Place, Wiltshire, the former home of Ian Fleming. In 2004, the property was burgled.^[18]