By Business & Finance 
Business & Finance has released its 2026 annual CEO 100 Index, recognising the leading chief executives in Ireland today.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Caroline Keeling, Chief Executive Officer
Keelings
Caroline Keeling is Group Chief Executive Officer of Keelings and has led the business since 2012. Under Keeling’s leadership, the company has expanded across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and international markets.
Keeling’s passion for fresh produce and commitment to inspiring healthier eating are central to the Keelings brand and its continued growth.
Keeling serves on the Board and National Council of IBEC and is a member of Enterprise Ireland’s Scaling Advisory Panel. She is also a board member of the Ifrah Foundation, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, and Valid Nutrition.
Derek Kehoe, CEO & Head of Country Ireland
BNP Paribas
Derek Kehoe is Chief Executive and Head of Country for the BNP Paribas Group in the Republic of Ireland, with executive responsibility for the bank’s Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) operations in Ireland.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Kehoe holds a number of non-executive and board roles across BNP Paribas entities in Ireland.
Kehoe joined BNP Paribas in 2002 and has over 30 years of experience in capital markets, leadership, and board positions. He holds an Honours degree in Pure Economics from UCD and is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
Aengus Kelly, CEO & Executive Director
Aercap
Aengus Kelly was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AerCap on May 18, 2011. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of AerCap’s U.S. operations from January 2008 to May 2011.
Kelly served as AerCap’s Group Treasurer from 2005 through December 31, 2007. He started his career in the aviation leasing and financing business with Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1998 and continued working with its successors AerFi in Ireland and debis AirFinance and AerCap in Amsterdam.
Prior to joining GPA in 1998, he spent three years with KPMG in Dublin. Kelly is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s degree in Accounting from University College, Dublin.
Dave Kirwan, Managing Director
Bord Gaís Energy
Dave Kirwan is Managing Director of Bord Gáis Energy. Kirwan returned to the role of MD in Summer 2020, having completed a successful term in the UK as Managing Director of the UK Customer Operations and latterly MD of the UK Home business.
Kirwan was responsible for leading the Bord Gáis Energy business through the successful sale to Centrica in 2014, and prior to that, had worked in Bord Gáis Éireann for 15 years. He was responsible for the launch of its Northern Ireland business, Firmus Energy, the development of the Whitegate power station and the acquisition and subsequent merger of the SWS wind business. Prior to joining Bord Gáis Energy, Kirwan worked in the power generation sector for ESB/ESBI in Ireland, the US and Vietnam.
Kirwan holds a BE Electronics from UCD and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland. He also holds an MBA from UCC and a doctorate in business economics (DBA) from UCC. Kirwan also serves on the Centrica Group Executive Committee.
Fergal Leamy, Chief Executive Officer
An Post
Fergal Leamy is the incoming chief executive of An Post. Former head of Coillte and Glen Dimplex, Leamy will take up his new role mid August 2026, for a seven-year term. Before this, Fergal Leamy began his working life with McKinsey & Company in London before joining private equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners.
He has also held C-suite roles at Greencore PLC and private equity firm Terra Firma, where he played pivotal roles in successful investments and business turnarounds.
He currently serves as Non-Executive Chair of NRG and sits on the Advisory Board of Melior, a prominent private equity group. In addition to his corporate endeavours, Leamy actively supports small businesses, having chaired companies like Orreco and Little Dish. Leamy graduated from University College Dublin with a BBLS degree in 1999.
Mark Lee, Chief Executive Officer
Sysco Ireland
Mark Lee is the Chief Executive Officer at Sysco Ireland. He has overall responsibility for all Sysco activities on the Island of Ireland. Lee joined Sysco Ireland as the Commercial Director in 2018 and previously held several executive-level positions with Compass Ireland, including Commercial Director, Customer Retention Director and Marketing Director.
He started his career in the marketing department of the Guinness Ireland Group in 1996 before moving to O2 and subsequently Eircom in 2003. He then joined sports management agency Platinum-One, where Ryder Cup 2006 Ltd and the European Tour were his primary clients.
Lee holds a B.Sc. Mgmt from Trinity College Dublin and an Advanced Diploma in Marketing Techniques from the Dublin Institute of Technology.
Michael Lohan, Chief Executive Officer
IDA Ireland
Michael Lohan is CEO of IDA Ireland, the national agency responsible for attracting multinational investment and high-growth companies to Ireland. Having joined the organisation in 2003, he has held a range of senior leadership positions, including responsibility for the Life Sciences division and the Talent, Transformation and Innovation agenda.
Prior to IDA Ireland, Lohan worked in the private sector with Nortel and IEC Electronics. He is an engineer and holds an MSc in Technology Management from the University of Galway.
T.J. Malone, Chief Executive Officer
NBI
T.J. Malone is the Chief Executive Officer of National Broadband Ireland (NBI), where he is responsible for overseeing the nationwide rollout and long-term operation of Ireland’s high-speed fibre broadband network – the largest infrastructure investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification.
Malone joined NBI in 2019 as CEO of NBI Deployment, leading the design and build of the network from the ground up. He brings over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, having previously served as CEO of Actavo Network & In-Home and as General Manager for Public Access at Esat Telecom.
Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive Officer
Tourism Ireland
Alice Mansergh has almost 20 years of strategic leadership experience in marketing, brand development and corporate responsibility. She has extensive experience working with travel industry partners and has served on the board of Fáilte Ireland for the past five years.
Prior to this, Mansergh held several senior leadership positions at Google, including roles in operations, customer marketing and consumer marketing. She led international marketing teams across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, delivering award-winning campaigns and driving brand growth across multiple markets.
Cathal Marley, Chief Executive Officer
EirGrid Plc
Cathal Marley was appointed as EirGrid Plc’s new CEO in March 2025. Marley began his career as a Senior Manager in Internal Audit in 1989 at EY, where he managed international companies such as Coca-Cola, IKEA, and Whirlpool.
Throughout his career, Marley has held key leadership roles, including Head of Group Treasury & Investor Relations at ESB and Group CFO at Ervia. He now serves as CEO of EirGrid and sits on the Board of Gas Networks Ireland.
Marley is a graduate of the Michael Smurfit Business School, where he was awarded an MBA in 2003. He is also a graduate of the Fellow Institute of Chartered Accountants, where he studied between 1989 and 1992.
Geoff Martha, Chief Executive Officer
Medtronic
Geoff Martha is Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, one of the world’s largest medical technology companies. He joined Medtronic in 2011. In 2015, he led the $43 billion acquisition of Covidien, nearly doubling Medtronic’s size, in what became the largest deal in the medical technology industry.
He became CEO in April 2020 and Chairman in 2021. Under his leadership, Medtronic has expanded its focus on innovation, including advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and remote care technologies. Before joining Medtronic, Martha spent nearly two decades at GE in various leadership roles across GE Capital and GE Healthcare. He holds a degree in finance from Penn State University.
Conor McCarthy, CEO & Founder
Flipdish
Conor McCarthy is CEO and Co-Founder of Flipdish, the online ordering platform for restaurants, founded in 2015. Headquartered in Dublin, Flipdish supports thousands of hospitality businesses across more than 12 countries.
Prior to Flipdish, McCarthy founded and led a number of technology ventures in the online gaming and software sectors.
McCarthy holds a Master of Science in Software Development from Maynooth University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Technological University Dublin.
Ryan McCarthy, Managing Partner, Ireland
KPMG
Ryan McCarthy is the Managing Partner of KPMG.
Prior to this, McCarthy advised Ireland’s leading private, listed and state-owned companies. He led the Consumer and Industrial Markets audit practice, working with clients across the retail & manufacturing and energy, renewables & utilities sectors. McCarthy led the firm’s Board Leadership Centre, a forum developed to support directors in exploring critical boardroom challenges and helping them to drive their board’s agenda. He also co-led the firm’s Private Enterprise practice until 2019.
Peter McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer
Speed Fibre Group
Peter McCarthy is the CEO of Speed Fibre Group. He has over 30 years of experience with companies like Actavo, Thornsett, Digicel and Accenture, amongst others and has considerable knowledge in the areas of telecoms (fixed and mobile), utility services, real estate, renewable energy and consumer-facing digital technology.
McCarthy has a demonstrable track record in managing, transforming and growing a diverse number of businesses, and now, as Group CEO, has overall responsibility for all Enet business activity, including business strategy and operations.
Danny McCoy, CEO
Ibec
Danny McCoy has been Chief Executive Officer of Ibec, Ireland’s largest business representative organisation, since 2009.
Prior to joining Ibec, McCoy was a senior economist with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Central Bank of Ireland. He has also held academic appointments at Dublin City University, University College London, the University of Oxford, and Trinity College Dublin.
McCoy has advised a range of national and international organisations, including the European Commission and the OECD. He is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy and was knighted by the Italian Government in 2022 for services to European business and the economy.
Rosheen McGuckian, Chief Executive Officer
NTR
Rosheen McGuckian has been Chief Executive Officer of NTR plc since 2013. Having joined NTR in 2008, she held several senior leadership roles across the group’s renewable energy, infrastructure and environmental businesses before being appointed CEO.
Before joining NTR, McGuckian was CEO of GE Money Ireland and led a major business transformation initiative at ESB Power Generation.
McGuckian is a Director of Grafton Group plc and Sisk. She has been recognised in both the Global Women’s Power List and the Global Green Fund Power List. She holds a PhD and MA from Dublin City University and a BSc from Trinity College Dublin.
Hugh McGuire, Group Managing Director & Executive Director
Glanbia plc
Hugh McGuire is CEO of Glanbia plc. He has held a range of senior leadership roles across the group since joining in 2003, including leadership of its ingredients and performance nutrition businesses, where he helped drive significant international growth.
Prior to Glanbia, McGuire worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company and held commercial and marketing roles with Nestlé and Leaf.
He holds an M.Sc. in Food Science from University College Dublin and a Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in Ireland.
Tina McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer
Staffline Ireland
Tina McKenzie has led the Staffline Ireland team as CEO for 13 years. With a focus on strategy, management, and change management, she strives to drive growth and strengthen their position as a leader in recruitment and public services.
She contributes to shaping economic policy as UK Chair of Policy & Advocacy at the Federation of Small Businesses and as a member of the UK Trade and Economic Security Forum. She leads a team of over 160 staff and oversees operations supporting up to 6,000 contractors across the island of Ireland.
Martin McVicar, Managing Director & Co-founder
Combilift
Martin McVicar is Managing Director and Co-founder of Combilift Ltd., a global manufacturer of materials handling solutions headquartered in Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
Founded in 1998, Combilift has grown from a small start-up into an international business with around 900 employees, exporting to over 85 countries and producing more than 85,000 customised products.
McVicar began his engineering career at Moffett Engineering, where he became Engineering Manager at the age of 19. In 2001, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Jenny Melia, Chief Executive Officer
Enterprise Ireland
Jenny Melia has been the Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland since July 2025. A graduate of University College Dublin, she brings nearly 20 years of experience within the agency, where she has held senior roles in client strategy, sector development and export growth.
Most recently, as Executive Director, she led initiatives to support scaling Irish businesses, foster innovation and drive international expansion. Her leadership reflects a strong track record in enterprise and deep knowledge of Ireland’s business landscape.
Seán Molloy, Chief Executive Officer
Tirlán
Seán Molley was appointed CEO of Tirlán in August 2024. He is responsible for leading the company’s overall strategy and operations.
Prior to this role, Molley served as Chief Agribusiness Officer at Glanbia and held senior roles in strategy and corporate planning at PwC and Ornua.
Molley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin.
Brendan Mooney, CEO
Kainos
Brendan Mooney is the Chief Executive Officer of Kainos, a leading digital services company, where he has spent the majority of his career. A graduate from Ulster University, he first joined Kainos in 1989 and became CEO in 2001, leading the company through significant growth.
Beyond his role at Kainos, Mooney has served as a Non-Executive Director at businesses including Meridio and the Probation Board of Northern Ireland, contributing his expertise in technology strategy, scaling operations and corporate governance. He has also played an active role in promoting the tech sector in Northern Ireland through various advisory and industry engagements.
Eric Mosley, CEO & Co-founder
Workhuman
Eric Mosley is the CEO and co-founder of what began as Globoforce and is now Workhuman. Mosley is leading the charge to dismantle old HR processes and challenge organisations to build new ways to connect the modern workforce.
Mosley is the author of The Crowdsourced Performance Review and co-author of the award-winning book, The Power of Thanks. He is also a regular contributor to The Huffington Post on the topics of recognition and humanity in the workplace, and a frequent contributor to publications including Forbes, Fast Company, and the Harvard Business Review.
Donal Murphy, Chief Executive Officer
DCC plc
Donal Murphy is CEO of DCC. He joined the company in 1998 and has held several senior leadership roles across the Group, including Managing Director of DCC Technology and DCC Energy.
Appointed CEO in 2017, Murphy has played a key role in the expansion of the Energy division, growing it from a UK and Ireland-focused operation into a major international business spanning 13 countries.
He is a graduate of the Smurfit School of Business and holds an MBA.
Marc Murphy, Chief Executive Officer
Fenergo
Marc Murphy is Chief Executive Officer of Fenergo, where he leads the company’s business and operational strategy. He has over 20 years’ experience in developing, selling and delivering enterprise financial technology solutions to global banks.
A software engineer by background, Murphy has been with Fenergo since its inception and has played a central role in its growth into a global fintech company, achieving unicorn status and its 2021 acquisition by Astorg and Bridgepoint.
Murphy holds an MBA from Dublin City University.
