Introduction
Who am I?
I am an award-winning technology & innovation leader specialising in consumer-centric products.
I have over 300 published patents & have led numerous commercially successful projects.
I am passionate about fostering environments that encourage bold risk-taking and superior product delivery. I excel in building front-end innovation capabilities and high-functioning teams. I enjoy the challenge to find opportunity in new spaces and create value from external collaborations. 🚀
A leader with over 20 years industry experience driving cutting edge innovation across an eclectic mix of product categories including domestic appliances, consumer electronics, Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and food & beverage.
I have held leadership positions in some of the most prestigious & innovative brands including
Dyson – Design Manager New Product Innovation
British American Tobacco (BAT) - Senior Manager New Sciences
Costa Coffee (a Coca Cola company) - Head of Innovation, Design & Technology.
Though differing industries and categories, the remit very similar - to identify & develop the ‘next big thing’ that can meet their growth ambitions & deliver sustained competitive advantage.
I have developed a number of iconic products & consumer loved features such as:
# Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer
# Dyson Airblade Tap
# Many anchor Dyson floorcare innovations
Awards
🏆 Dyson Student Design Award Winner 2004
🏆 Enterprise Ireland Student Enterprise Award 2004
🏆 Awarded British American Tobacco Patent Filing of the Year 2020
🏆 Numerous International Design Awards for products created
I am currently:
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Inlab Ventures
Director at Strawberry Lane Consulting Limited
further information below
What I offer
I provide fractional innovation and design & innovation leadership delivering strategic, high-impact support to accelerate product development, optimise resources, and boost innovation success rate through tailored, actionable solutions. Get executive-level expertise without the full-time cost.
I won't claim to be more knowledgeable about your industry than you are - but I will provide a fresh impartial perspective calling on my varied industry experience. Having worked across start-up, scale-ups and large corporates, I am familiar with the nuances and ways of working in each environment. I tailor my approach to fit with your ways of working.
Specialisms include
- System level concept formation - good for consumer, business, society
- Concept, proposition, product & service design
- Product and technology road mapping
- Conceptual & creative problem solving
- Innovation strategy & creative development
- Consumer - Behavioural economics - system 1 & 2 thinking
- Impartial appraisal & prioritisation
- Technical due diligence to support M&A, venturing.
- Design, engineering & manufacture strategy - build v's buy
- Intellectual property - patenting - war gaming - expert witness
What I bring:
A passion for generating creative, technically sound solutions
Proven success in building and leading front-end innovation teams
A strong track record of uncovering opportunities in emerging or highly competitive spaces
Deep external networks that unlock collaborative value
I can support your business by:
Identifying threats and commercial opportunities
Creating an innovation-enabling environment
Building or leading innovation teams and projects
Facilitating ideation sessions and rapid MVP prototyping
Testing propositions for desirability, feasibility, and viability
Bridging gaps between innovation and other business functions
Recent project categories include:
Food & beverage - including Coffee.
FMCG including - tobacco, nicotine, actives & cannabis spaces
Environmental innovation - various
Consumer electronics
Femtech
Let’s explore how I can help your business move faster, think bigger, and innovate more intelligently.
RESEARCH & STRATEGY
INDUSTRIAL & PRODUCT DESIGN
INDUSTRIAL & PRODUCT DESIGN
Helping companies grow & sustain their competitive advantage by answering their toughest questions: What will their future customers likely need or desire?
Strategic innovation
Innovation strategy development & market and competitive analysis.
How will the market evolve, what is likely to remain constant? What emerging trends are likely to impact their current consumer or business models.
Identifying growth opportunities, anticipate change, and unlock new customer experiences.
Many years experience identifying the 'next big thing' from Dyson, BAT & Costa Coffee
INDUSTRIAL & PRODUCT DESIGN
INDUSTRIAL & PRODUCT DESIGN
INDUSTRIAL & PRODUCT DESIGN
Several years experience leading the design and engineering of mass manufactured consumer centric products.
Extensively experienced in frontend innovation and building MVP or proof of concept products or prototypes.
I can provide either turn-key product development support
or
Provide complementary support to your internal teams or third party partners to bring products to life.
Accustom to both in-house and outsourced design & engineering, I am well networked and can assist building the dream team
ENGINEERING
INDUSTRIAL & PRODUCT DESIGN
PROPOSITION & SERVICE DESIGN
Over 19 years experience leading the design and engineering of products from inception to working proof of concepts
Calling on past experiences to come up with creative solutions to your technical problems. A natural-born problem solver and can transform compelling ideas into reality.
Experience in solving mechanical, electro-mechanical, and electronic challenges to invent new product concepts
Support partner selection
& commercial due diligence
Providing support from concept inception to mass manufacturable solutions
PROPOSITION & SERVICE DESIGN
PROPOSITION & SERVICE DESIGN
PROPOSITION & SERVICE DESIGN
Applying a design thinking approach to transform end-to-end customer experiences
Business model innovation
identifying, developing & pressure testing novel business models
Helping clients drive innovation and embrace change
Human-centered approach
Providing tangible & actionable outcomes of commercial value
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
PROPOSITION & SERVICE DESIGN
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Comprehensive IP experience with over 300 published patents
Intellectual property strategy
A systematic approach that to manage and leverage your intellectual property
Wargaming
navigating third party Intellectual property & providing technical solutions in heavily contested spaces.
Expert witness
leveraging my knowledge, expertise, impartiality and objectivity to provide
unbiased opinion regarding a specific matter/s being disputed
TECHNICAL SERVICES
PROPOSITION & SERVICE DESIGN
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Leverage my industry experience to help solve your challenges
Start up mentoring & support
helping start-ups to meet their goals & help navigate pitfalls
Organisational consulting &
advisory services
Advising on approach to innovation
Creating a culture that promotes innovation.
Supporting organisations & mentoring their innovation programmes
Technical due diligence
supporting M&A, venturing.
Design Manager New Product Innovation Dyson
Senior Manager Strategic Sciences British American Tobacco
Senior Manager Strategic Sciences British American Tobacco
At Dyson my role was to identify new products and categories to enable the company to meet its ambitious growth targets.
In collaboration with several business functions - my team identified, created and mock up early concepts, vision specifications and product roadmaps - to enable critical assessment of the commercial potential of each p
At Dyson my role was to identify new products and categories to enable the company to meet its ambitious growth targets.
In collaboration with several business functions - my team identified, created and mock up early concepts, vision specifications and product roadmaps - to enable critical assessment of the commercial potential of each proposed new product or category.
Once commercially aligned - to manage the development of these product propositions both in how they look and technically how they work.
One such spin out the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer, widely considered one of the most successful Dyson products.
On a personal note I am a prolific engineer - I have over 200 published patents either as sole or co-inventer.
Making me one of the most named inventors at Dyson.
I am either the sole or co-inventor for all fundamental Intellectual property for the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer.
I also hold fundamental IP on many key features on the current range of hand dryers and vacuum cleaners.
Notable contributions at Dyson include...
Dyson supersonic hair dryer
The Dyson Airblade tap
ABDB (silenced hand dryer)
The self-righting vacuum cleaner
Shroud / hygienic bin emptying.
Senior Manager Strategic Sciences British American Tobacco
Senior Manager Strategic Sciences British American Tobacco
Senior Manager Strategic Sciences British American Tobacco
Responsible for identification and developing a pipeline of innovation for British American Tobacco's reduced risk product portfolio.
To achieve sustainable competitive advantage through meaningful proposition differentiation and performance superiority in BAT's New category products - (including e-cigarettes, tobacco heating products &
Responsible for identification and developing a pipeline of innovation for British American Tobacco's reduced risk product portfolio.
To achieve sustainable competitive advantage through meaningful proposition differentiation and performance superiority in BAT's New category products - (including e-cigarettes, tobacco heating products & beyond).
The challenge, to define & conceive new product propositions and where necessary qualify technologies that enabled these new to world concepts.
To create both 'works like' & 'looks like' consumer propositions - test them with the target consumer groups and iterate proposition if necessary. Using insights gained to secure stakeholder buy in.
Though a different industry, the challenges were familiar, having worked in a similar capacity during my 10+ years at Dyson.
In role, we pioneered & delivered an array of product concepts & fundamental technology for both THP & vapour products.
Patented in excess of 170+ unique concepts - equating to ~25% of the total BAT group patent fillings at the time.
In the areas of:
Novel nicotine delivery systems
Alternative nascent heating technology
Product intelligence (edge & cloud)
Connectivity & app ecosystems
FMCG & sustainability
Other enablers - THP & vapour systems
🏆 In recognition, received the accolade of Patent filing of the year 2020 at BAT.
Head of Innovation, Technology & Design at Costa Coffee
Senior Manager Strategic Sciences British American Tobacco
Head of Innovation, Technology & Design at Costa Coffee
Responsible for identifying & developing innovations to enable Costa Express to lead the industry and create a defendable sustainable advantage for the company.
The remit, to identification of technologies and innovations that may impact the coffee industry, to define & execute programs to bring technologies & innovations to maturity /
Responsible for identifying & developing innovations to enable Costa Express to lead the industry and create a defendable sustainable advantage for the company.
The remit, to identification of technologies and innovations that may impact the coffee industry, to define & execute programs to bring technologies & innovations to maturity / readiness to be implemented in new to world or existing legacy equipment.
To aid the selection process, required opportunity sizing, building technology demonstrators, proposition assessment, multi stakeholder engagement – to propose go/no go on concepts beyond initial explorations.
Key responsibilities:
- Concept development & proposition refinement
- Leading development of early-stage concepts including rapid prototype & selection.
- Lead the design, engineering & manufacture strategy - make v buy.
- Open Innovation & assessment of candidates - technologies and partners
- Leading Industrial design activities for the Express platform & nurturing design-led innovation
Innovation & Intellectual property
Dyson & British American Tobacco
Whilst many of my past projects have been brought to market, many more are either still in development or waiting for the right conditions for the proposition to be commercially successful. Frontend R&D can be a lonely road - with much of the fruits of your labour playing out over a long time horizon.
For anyone who has worked in frontend innovation in large companies, there are many factors that impact whether a project successfully makes it through the innovation funnel. Including (not limited to) consumer readiness, technology readiness, manufacture & scalability, profitability, perceived value, strategic alignment, support from stakeholders, risk propensity, category dynamics, market & regulatory pull factors.
As much of my working career has been working on highly confidential projects - it is difficult to share the full breadth of my experience.
To get a more wholistic view please check out some of my patent filings - visit https://worldwide.espacenet.com/
For published Dyson related patents
-search with the following general terms - "Dyson Technology Moloney"
For published British American Tobacco patents
-search with the following general terms - "British American Tobacco Moloney"
-search with the following general terms - "Nicoventures Moloney"
Previous Launched Projects - Dyson
Dyson Airblade Wash & Dry Hand dryer
Dyson Airblade Wash & Dry Hand dryer
Dyson Airblade Wash & Dry Hand dryer
Combined contactless tap and hand dryer - hands can be dried in the sink in just 14 seconds. There's no need for users to move to a separate drying area, so no water is dripped on the floor as it stays over the sink, reducing the risk of accidents in the washroom.
Clean air from the HEPA filter is forced at 341mph through apertures 0.55
Combined contactless tap and hand dryer - hands can be dried in the sink in just 14 seconds. There's no need for users to move to a separate drying area, so no water is dripped on the floor as it stays over the sink, reducing the risk of accidents in the washroom.
Clean air from the HEPA filter is forced at 341mph through apertures 0.55mm wide, scraping water from hands, quickly and hygienically.
Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer
Dyson Airblade Wash & Dry Hand dryer
Dyson Airblade Wash & Dry Hand dryer
Most awarded hair dryer *
The anchor product to the Dyson haircare portfolio - the Supersonic hair dryer further enhances the company’s reputation for radically re-thinking familiar technology. It’s lightweight, beautifully quiet, easy to use, extremely powerful and has the potential to change your beauty routine forever.
Launched in 2016 &
Most awarded hair dryer *
The anchor product to the Dyson haircare portfolio - the Supersonic hair dryer further enhances the company’s reputation for radically re-thinking familiar technology. It’s lightweight, beautifully quiet, easy to use, extremely powerful and has the potential to change your beauty routine forever.
Launched in 2016 & remains the category leader today
managed project from inception to completion of proof of concept - including stakeholder engagement and technical execution including development of multiple 'looks like' & 'functions like' prototypes.
Including building fundamental haircare understanding to build a truly superior product.
* Based on annual awards for hair dryers by top 20 publications in GB from January 2021 to October 2022
Dyson Innovations Floorcare
Dyson Airblade Wash & Dry Hand dryer
Dyson Innovations Floorcare
Dyson’s reputation for everyday innovation is formidable. Having famously revolutionised the vacuum cleaner, the revered British technology company has since turned its hand to a variety of appliances, transforming the way they function and delivering unprecedented performance levels.
In small but significant ways Dyson technology has imp
Dyson’s reputation for everyday innovation is formidable. Having famously revolutionised the vacuum cleaner, the revered British technology company has since turned its hand to a variety of appliances, transforming the way they function and delivering unprecedented performance levels.
In small but significant ways Dyson technology has improved our day-to-day lives.
contributions include
alternative canister vacuum cleaner
self correcting vacuum cleaner
shroud wiping & bin emptying
intuitive floor tool
low-level floor dust illumination
LinkedIn Recommendations
" Patrick is an inspiring innovator, so much passion and creativity, a force multiplier in discovering new business opportunities. He’s highly collaborative and thinks beyond point solutions towards full innovation ecosystems. His technical and consumer curiosity makes the world of innovation fun to be in! "
" Patrick is a delight to work with for a patent attorney! His energy, technical knowledge, passion to find solutions (and more solutions) to technical problems combined with the ability to express these solutions clearly makes him a strong serial innovator. His out of the box thinking is much appreciated by those seeking improvement. Looking forward to seeing his contributions to further innovations. "
" Patrick is a delight to work with for a patent attorney! His energy, technical knowledge, passion to find solutions (and more solutions) to technical problems combined with the ability to express these solutions clearly makes him a strong serial innovator. His out of the box thinking is much appreciated by those seeking improvement. Looking forward to seeing his contributions to further innovations. "
September 2021
Sharon Godall
Senior Vice President R&D
British American Tobacco
" Patrick is a delight to work with for a patent attorney! His energy, technical knowledge, passion to find solutions (and more solutions) to technical problems combined with the ability to express these solutions clearly makes him a strong serial innovator. His out of the box thinking is much appreciated by those seeking improvement. Looking forward to seeing his contributions to further innovations. "
" Patrick is a delight to work with for a patent attorney! His energy, technical knowledge, passion to find solutions (and more solutions) to technical problems combined with the ability to express these solutions clearly makes him a strong serial innovator. His out of the box thinking is much appreciated by those seeking improvement. Looking forward to seeing his contributions to further innovations. "
" Patrick is a delight to work with for a patent attorney! His energy, technical knowledge, passion to find solutions (and more solutions) to technical problems combined with the ability to express these solutions clearly makes him a strong serial innovator. His out of the box thinking is much appreciated by those seeking improvement. Looking forward to seeing his contributions to further innovations. "
July 2021
Gulben Karlidag
Senior Counsel Patents
British American Tobacco
" I had the pleasure of working with Patrick on dozens of innovative new products over there last five years. He is one of the few people to have the vision to keep pushing the boundaries of technology. He has a fantastic ability to express deeply technical concepts and requirements with ease and routinely absorbs and comprehends the subtleties and nuances of an incredibly broad range of technical topics. In short he's a joy to work with! "
May 2021
Adam Collins
Associate Principal
Crux Product Design
" Patrick is an imaginative, stimulating and invariably creative thinker who brings his considerable engineering and technical skills to bear in identifying new ways of meeting consumer needs. He is also an extremely engaging and congenial individual spending time with whom is always a pleasure. He is untiringly in constant search of the “next best thing” in all the categories he has worked in unconstrained by the shibboleths of convention. But more importantly, there is absolutely no distinction between the thoroughly decent human being he is and his professional expertise."
September 2024
Ian Callow
Consumer Insight Specialist
Polyphony Consulting Limited