Business & Finance has released its 2025 annual CEO 100 Index, recognising the leading chief executives in Ireland today, in association with KPMG.
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Barry Napier, CEO
Cubic³
Barry also holds board seats on a range of high-growth companies and was the first Irish entrepreneur selected for the Endeavour Leadership Programme.
Amanda Nelson, CEO
Vodafone Ireland
During her eight years at Vodafone Netherlands, Amanda held roles as Regional Finance Executive, Head of Finance Operations and then Marketing Director. After which she took up the role of CEO and Chair of Vodafone Malta in 2013. Most recently, as CEO of Vodafone Hungary, Amanda led digital change in the education and healthcare sector throughout the pandemic, enabling customers to adapt and thrive in response to their changing circumstances and needs. Under her tenure, 5G was rolled out in Budapest and other densely populated areas of the country. Born in England, Amanda achieved a first-class honours degree in Classical Studies from the University of Bristol.
Fergal Naughton, CEO,
Glen Dimplex
Fergal Naughton is Group CEO of Glen Dimplex. He holds a degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Trinity College Dublin (TCD), a Master’s of Science from Stanford University and a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard University.
Following multiple roles in Glen Dimplex businesses across the world, he was previously Group CEO between 2016 and 2021 and subsequently became Group Executive Chairman. In 2025 he returned to CEO role.
Naughton is Chairman of the Provost’s Council at Trinity College Dublin. He was the Founding President of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and was also Chairman of YPO in Ireland. He is a Hesburgh Trustee of the University of Notre Dame. He is a Trustee of the Naughton Foundation, a charitable organisation which supports worthwhile causes in education.
Tom Neville, President & CEO
Aramark Ireland
Brendan Noud, Co-founder & CEO
LearnUpon
Tom O’Brien, Group CEO
Nephin Energy
He has mentored on the Irish Stock Exchange’s #IPOready leadership programme, which is designed to help ambitious Irish companies prepare for different types of strategic funding options, including going public. A lawyer by training, Tom originally worked for over 10 years in A&L Goodbody’s Projects Energy Department, of one of Ireland’s leading law firms, where he worked on many of Ireland’s largest energy, real estate, and infrastructure projects. Tom is a regular contributor to the energy policy debate in Ireland. He holds an LLB from University College Cork, an LLM from University College London, and a Diploma in Finance from University College Dublin.
Tom O’Connor, CEO
Version 1
Mark O’Donoghue, CEO
Ding
Mark is a graduate from the University of Oxford, where he holds a Bachelor’s in Geography. He also studied at INSEAD and was awarded an MBA in Strategy, Marketing, Finance, and Management.
Michael O’Leary, CEO
Ryanair
Michael O’Leary has been a director at Ryanair since 1988 and joined the board of Ryanair Holdings in July 1996. He was appointed as the company’s Chief Executive Officer in 1994. O’Leary started his career as a consultant at KPMG in 1984, and then became a Financial Advisor to Tony Ryan in 1986.
Tomas Ó’Midheach, CEO
FBD Holdings
He spent 11 years with Citibank in the UK, Spain and Dublin, where he held several senior positions in Finance, ultimately assuming the position of CFO at Citibank Ireland.
He joined AIB in June 2006 and held a number of senior executive positions, including Head of Direct Channels & Analytics, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining FBD, Mr. Ó’Midheach held the position of Deputy CEO and was an Executive Board Member of AIB.
Tony O’Reilly, Founder & CEO
dCarbonX
Dalton Philips, CEO
Greencore
John Power, Founder & CEO
Aerogen
A founder faculty member of the National University of Ireland, Galway Bio-Innovate program, he has actively mentored many indigenous early-stage Irish companies. A Chartered Engineer, he holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University, is an Adjunct Professor at NUIG, where in 2016, in recognition of his contribution to the development of the Irish Medical Device sector, John was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate.
Mary Quaney, Group CEO
Mainstream Renewable Power
As CEO, Mary directs a global team working across major renewable energy operations in Chile, South Africa, and Asia. Based at Mainstream’s Dublin headquarters, she serves on the board’s Safety, Risk & Investment, and Corporate Social Responsibility committees.
Ger Rabbette, CEO
Uniphar
Ger is a graduate from the University of Galway and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Financial Management Services.
Paul Rellis, CEO
The Viatel Group
In 2018, Rellis joined the Senior Advisory team at Chirisa Capital Management and became CEO of Viatel Technology Group, bringing with him a clear vision and a customer-first focus. Under Paul’s leadership, now backed by strategic investment from the Macquarie Group, Viatel has grown exponentially both organically and through acquisition. The company now employs over 350 people and serves thousands of enterprise customers, delivering leading solutions in cybersecurity, cloud, connectivity and business communications.
Jonathan Rockett, CEO
Datalex
Eamonn Rothwell, CEO
Irish Continental Group
Eamonn Rothwell, aged 66, has been a Director for 35 years, having been appointed as a non-executive Director in 1987 and subsequently to the position of Chief Executive Officer in 1992. He is also the Director of Interferry European Office A.I.S.B.L. He is a former Director of The United Kingdom Mutual War Risks Association Limited, Interferry Inc and The United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Bermuda) Limited. He is a past executive Director of former stockbrokers NCB Group, now part of Tilman Brewin Dolphin. Prior to that, he worked with Allied Irish Banks plc and Fáilte Ireland (The Irish Tourist Board).
Edmond Scanlon, CEO
Kerry Group
Edmond joined Kerry’s graduate programme in Ireland in 1996. Over his career, he has held leadership roles in the Group’s Flavours and Applied Health and Nutrition businesses as well as heading up the Group’s activities in China and the Asia Pacific region. Edmond was appointed Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer in October 2017.
Anton Scott, CEO
SoftCo
Under Anton’s leadership, SoftCo has achieved significant milestones, including being ranked as a Value Leader in Spend Matters’ SolutionMap for AP Automation. Anton has expressed his delight in this achievement, highlighting the importance of customer satisfaction and the company’s commitment to meeting their needs. Throughout his career, Anton has demonstrated a strong focus on customer-centricity and innovation, driving SoftCo’s growth and success in the industry.
Sean Sheehan, Founder & CEO
Wisetek
Under his leadership, Wisetek has become a global leader in IT asset disposal, providing environmentally responsible solutions to companies around the world. Sheehan’s approach to business is centred around teamwork, delegation, and responsibility, and he motivates himself and his staff by empowering them to make decisions and take ownership of their work. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement, Sheehan aims to continue growing Wisetek’s business offerings and making a positive impact on the environment.
Tony Smurfit, Group CEO
Smurfit Westrock
Tony Smurfit is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Smurfit Westrock Group plc (SKG), one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world.
He was Chief Operations Officer from November 2002 to September 2015, and he has held several other management positions, having worked in various parts of the organisation both in the United States and Europe since he joined the company in 1986. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1989.
Today, Smurfit Westrock operates in 36 countries globally and employs 48,000 people. The company is currently listed on the Dublin and London Stock Exchanges and has a market capitalisation of approximately €11.7 billion.
He is a former Director of Aer Rianta (the Irish Airport Authority which is owned by the Irish Government), the Irish National Stud (an Irish Government owned operation), C&C plc, Ibec (Irish Business Employers Confederation) and currently sits on the Board of ERT (European Round Table of Industry), and CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries).
He was appointed Honorary Consul of Mexico to Ireland in 2003 and was honoured by the French Government in 2004 when he was nominated Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour. He was subsequently nominated Commander of the French Legion of Honour in 2017. He holds an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration and is a member of the Turf Club of Ireland.
Michael Stanley, Co-founder & CEO
Cairn Homes plc
Eoin Tongue, Interim CEO
Primark
Laura Trimble, CEO
HSBC
Prior to joining HSBC Ireland, Laura worked for HSBC in various senior roles in the UK and Europe, most recently as European Head of HSBC’s Origination business. In this role, she was responsible for advising clients on all aspects of their strategic financing needs, including structuring their capital base appropriately via debt and equity solutions and advising on strategic events such as acquisition financing, capital markets activity and initial public offerings. This role included coverage of HSBC’s corporate clients in 22 countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Israel and South Africa, supported by a team based in London, Paris, Frankfurt and India. Laura has an extensive investment banking and commercial banking background with prior roles in leveraged finance, investment grade debt, convertible bonds and equity capital markets.
Over the last decade, Laura has played a leading role in driving HSBC’s activities to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues. For example, in 2020, she founded HSBC’s European Shadow ExCo, a development programme for colleagues to work with senior leaders on business challenges such as sustainability, the future of work, and Europe’s position as an international connector. She also co-founded HSBC’s “Inclusive Europe” employee resource group in 2021, which leads activities to promote cultural diversity and to ensure colleagues supporting inclusivity are recognised and rewarded.
Herman Troskie, CEO
Ardagh Group
Fernando Vicario, CEO & Country Executive for Ireland
Bank of America Europe DAC
Over the years, he has led a significant number of growth initiatives across regions in these roles. Fernando sits on the EMEA regional executive committee and the Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee (D&I). He is also co-chair of Bank of America’s EMEA D&I Council and co-leads the EMEA ESG Strategic Council. Fernando is a member of the Board of the ODI (Open Doors Initiative) in Dublin. A native of Pforzheim, Germany and a Spanish national, Fernando obtained a degree in Banking and Finance from the Hochschule fuer Bankwirtschaft/Bankakademie in Frankfurt, Germany.
