Business & Finance is proud to release the annual CMO 100 Index in association with Cvent. The CMO 100 recognises the top marketing professionals operating in Ireland in 2026.
Paul Bailey, Head of Global Marketing & Communications IDA Ireland
Paul Bailey is Head of Global Marketing & Communications at IDA Ireland, where he leads the organisation’s marketing, communications, PR, and media functions. Since joining in 2023, he has overseen the development and launch of IDA Ireland’s rebrand.
Previously, he was Head of Communications at the Irish League of Credit Unions, leading award-winning national campaigns, including the Gold Effie-winning “Monster Loans” initiative. He has also held senior communications roles with the HSE and the Department of Health. Bailey is a member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and the Institute of Directors.
Kjeld Beijer, Head of Marketing & Communications Uniphar
Kjeld Beijer has been the Head of Marketing and Communications at Uniphar since 2024. In this role, he is responsible for unifying key brands under one global identity, leading international marketing teams, and advising and coaching the leadership on OKR implementation and performance focus.
Before that, he held multiple marketing roles, particularly at 24i and KPN. Beijer is a graduate of Inholland Hogeschool and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, and Design.
Dara Brady, CMO Ryanair
Dara Brady is the Chief Marketing Officer at Ryanair, reporting to the CEO. He leads Digital, Product, PR Communications, Marketing, and Customer operations. Since joining in 2018, Dara has driven digital transformation and expanded Ryanair’s partnerships with online travel agents to improve customer access and service delivery.
Brady holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Marketing, and related support services from the Technological University of the Shannon.
Mark Brennan, Head of Marketing Allianz
Mark Brennan is a marketing and business leader with more than 20 years of international experience building brands and driving commercial growth across financial services, automotive, FMCG and consumer sectors.
He has held senior marketing roles with leading organisations including Allianz, AIB, EBS, Guinness, Volkswagen, L’Oréal, and previously worked with global advertising agencies in London, including Adam&EveDDB. Since joining Allianz Ireland in 2021, he has led the growth of the Allianz brand to become Ireland’s leading P&C insurance brand.
Lisa Browne, Head of Marketing & Customer Insights ESB Group
Lisa Browne is Head of Marketing & Customer Insights at ESB, leading a team of marketing professionals with responsibility for brand and marketing strategies for key brands and businesses within the company. She is a Fellow of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and has previous experience at senior level in a number of industries, including FMCG, telecommunications and financial services.
Sarah Burmanje, Marketing Manager Keelings
Sarah Burmanje is the Marketing Manager at Keelings. She has progressed through a variety of brand leadership roles, including Senior Brand Manager at Keelings, Brand Manager at Lindt & Sprüngli and Assistant Brand Manager at Danone Early Life Nutrition. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science and a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing, both from UCD.
Daragh Byrne, CMO SoftCo
Daragh Byrne is Global CMO of SoftCo, the Dublin-based financial automation software company. He was appointed Chief Marketing Officer in 2019, bringing extensive experience in marketing, media, and commercial leadership to the role. He leads SoftCo’s global marketing strategy and execution, with a focus on driving growth, strengthening customer retention, and building the company’s market presence.
Daragh has a strong track record of developing and implementing effective go-to-market strategies, building strategic partnerships, and leading high-performing teams. He recently led SoftCo’s new positioning and brand refresh, helping to sharpen the company’s market message and create a stronger platform for growth.
Before joining SoftCo, Daragh was Chief Commercial Officer at Maximum Media Network, where he later became CEO. He has also held roles at TV3 and UTV Ireland and served as a board member of TAM Ireland. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication, Marketing and Finance from University College Dublin.
Avril Casserly, Marketing Manager Glen Dimplex
Avril Casserly is the Marketing Manager at Glen Dimplex Ireland, the country’s leading distributor of electrical products and a global leader in sustainable heating and ventilation solutions. Managing brands such as Dimplex, Belling, Morphy Richards, Roberts Radio, Toshiba, Walker, and Xpelair, she leads multi-channel marketing campaigns across ROI and NI.
She works closely with retailers on in-store promotions and merchandising, while also managing digital content, social media, brand assets, and campaign budgets. With a focus on strategic brand growth and customer retention, she drives innovative marketing initiatives both online and offline.
Casserly graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in International Management, Purchasing and Supply Chain from Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Emma Chalwin, CMO Workday
Emma Chalwin has been Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Workday since July 2023. She oversees the global marketing organisation, with responsibility for building the brand and creating customer demand in markets around the world. Prior to that, she held positions as Executive VP at Salesforce and Director of EMEA Brand Marketing. Chalwin graduated with a Bachelor’s in European Business Studies at the University of West London.
Meabh Clohosey, Brand & Marketing Director Aer Lingus
Meabh Clohosey is Brand and Marketing Director at Aer Lingus, where she leads the airline’s brand and marketing strategy. Prior to joining Aer Lingus in 2022, she served as Managing Director of Norwegian Brand Ltd and was a member of the Board of Directors of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, overseeing global brand development and market intelligence across the Norwegian portfolio. Earlier in her career, she held marketing roles with Heineken Ireland. Meabh holds a degree in International Marketing and Languages from Dublin City University.
Geoff Codd, Marketing Director Energia
Geoff Codd has been Marketing Director at gas and electricity supplier Energia since October 2021. He was previously the company’s Head of Marketing & Marketing Manager and has also worked in marketing roles at Meteor, Perlico and Shop Direct. He is the President of the AAI. Codd is a Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University and Saint Joseph’s University Haub School of Business graduate.
Tara Collins, CMO National Broadband Ireland
Tara Collins is Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at National Broadband Ireland, where she leads brand strategy, stakeholder engagement and communications for Ireland’s largest telecom infrastructure project.
With more than 20 years of experience, she has held senior leadership roles across telecommunications, aviation, technology, financial services and higher education, including positions with Ryanair, Hewlett-Packard, UCD and Smurfit Business School. Collins serves on the boards of the RISE Global Foundation and the Ireland US Council and is a founding member of the Women’s Infrastructure Network in Ireland.
Gavin Collins, Marketing Director, EMEA Workhuman
Gavin Collins is Senior Marketing Director at Workhuman, where he leads go-to-market strategy across EMEA. An experienced B2B marketing leader, he has a strong track record of driving demand generation, accelerating pipeline growth and supporting enterprise sales through data-driven marketing programmes.
Collins has extensive experience scaling international marketing functions, aligning regional and global teams and developing market expansion strategies that drive business growth.
Gillian Culhane is Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing at AerCap, one of the world’s leading aviation leasing companies. Based in Dublin, she has led AerCap’s communications and marketing function since 2016. Prior to joining AerCap, Culhane spent more than 13 years at Aer Lingus, including over a decade as Head of Press and Media Relations. She holds a Diploma in Leadership and Management from the UCD Professional Academy.
David Deighan, Head of Communications KPMG
David Deighan is Head of Communications at KPMG Ireland, where he leads the firm’s advertising, PR and media activities. A graduate of DCU, he has built a diverse career spanning advertising, media and communications, including roles with leading agencies, the out-of-home media sector as a Director of JCDecaux and work on major campaigns for brands such as Guinness and Carlsberg.
Vincent Dolan, VP Marketing, Sustainability & Corporate Communications Dole plc
Vincent Dolan is Vice President of Marketing, Sustainability & Corporate Communications at Dole plc. Having joined the business in 1997, he has held a number of senior leadership roles across marketing and sustainability, including European Marketing Manager and Group Marketing & Sustainability Director. Since the formation of Dole plc in 2021, Dolan has led the company’s global marketing, sustainability and corporate communications functions. He holds an MSc in Management for Sustainable Development and an MBS in International Strategic Marketing from Dublin City University.
Caroline Donnellan, Director of Marketing & Brand Sky Ireland
Caroline Donnellan is Director of Marketing & Brand at Sky Ireland, where she leads the marketing strategy for Sky’s TV, Broadband, Mobile, Sports, Cinema and Content offerings, as well as leading on the marketing strategy for the NOW streaming brand. Responsible for brand growth and customer acquisition, she oversees creative, media and integrated marketing activity across the Irish market, as well as leading on the Sky sponsorship strategy as the primary partner of the Ireland Men’s and Women’s national football teams.
An award-winning marketing leader, Donnellan was named Marketer of the Year in 2023 and led the team recognised as Marketing Team of the Year. With more than 17 years of experience, including senior roles in financial services, she has a strong track record of delivering impactful, results-driven marketing campaigns.
Alison Duffy, CMO IQ-EQ
Alison Duffy is Chief Marketing Officer at IQ-EQ, where she leads the Group’s global marketing, communications and brand strategy across its international business segments. Since joining the company in 2015, she has played a key role in its global growth, leading brand transformation initiatives, acquisition integrations and a major global rebrand.
Prior to IQ-EQ, Duffy held senior marketing and communications roles with Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (PlayStation).
Wendy Duggan, Head of Marketing Primark
Wendy Duggan is Director of Marketing at Primark, where she leads the company’s global marketing strategy across communications, creative, operations and visual merchandising. Since joining Primark in 2014, she has held a variety of leadership roles, including overseeing new market launches such as the brand’s entry into the United States.
Promoted to Marketing Director in 2021, Duggan leads a global team of more than 100 and has played a key role in strengthening Primark’s communications, influencer and brand partnership strategies. She holds a first-class honours degree in Business Studies (Marketing) from Dublin City University.
Niamh Dundon, Head of Marketing Digital Reality
Niamh Dundon is a senior marketing leader at Digital Realty, responsible for developing and executing EMEA partner marketing, content, and programme strategies that accelerate joint pipeline growth, strengthen strategic partner relationships, and drive market impact. Working closely with global marketing teams and key ecosystem partners, she leads integrated go-to-market initiatives that position Digital Realty at the heart of the AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure ecosystem.
With more than 20 years of experience across the technology, telecommunications, legal, and public relations industries, Niamh has built a strong track record in partner marketing, demand generation, content strategy, executive engagement, and business growth. She specialises in creating collaborative programmes that bring together partners, customers, and industry leaders to deliver measurable business outcomes and accelerate growth.
Niamh Dundon holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Communications from the University of Westminster.
Áine Fanning, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Cpl
Áine is Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Cpl, leading sales, marketing, and bids strategy across Ireland and the UK. She is a seasoned leader with a proven track record of building a unified go-to-market function – aligning brand, demand generation, and sales strategy behind a single growth engine across Cpl’s full-service model.
Her expertise lies in designing workforce and managed services solutions – Recruitment, RPO, MSP, BPS, and Project Solutions – shaped by client insight and sharpened through clear market positioning. Skilled in engaging stakeholders from board to delivery level, she is known for translating brand and market strategy into measurable business growth. Áine previously led Cpl’s MSP & RPO division, building deep delivery expertise that continues to inform how she shapes Cpl’s proposition today.
Fiona Farrell, Marketing Director Lidl
Fiona Farrell has been Lidl’s Marketing Director for nearly 5 years. Prior to that, she held roles within Lidl as Deputy Head of Marketing and Senior Media Manager. In her career, she held roles as Commercial Director and Media & Trading Director. Farrell is a graduate of Dublin City University (DCU) and holds a Bachelor in Communications, alongside a Master in Advertising from D.I.T.
Una Fitzgibbon, Director of Marketing & Communications Bord Bia
Una Fitzgibbon is Marketing Director at Bord Bia, where she leads strategic marketing communications across domestic and international markets. With more than 17 years at the organisation, she has played a key role in shaping the marketing strategy for Origin Green and promoting Ireland’s reputation as a global leader in sustainable food and drink production. Fitzgibbon has extensive experience supporting businesses with brand development, market positioning and sustainable growth strategies. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UCD.
Gavin Gillespie, Marketing Director Ireland & Northern Ireland The Coca-Cola Company
Gavin Gillespie is the Marketing Director for The Coca-Cola Company, overseeing the complete beverage portfolio across the Island of Ireland. With over 12 years of marketing experience, he is known for balancing short-term commercial growth with long-term brand equity.
He joined Coca-Cola Hellenic in 2016 and transitioned to The Coca-Cola Company in 2020, leading major portfolios like Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes, and Coca-Cola. Following his promotion to Marketing Director in 2024, his industry impact earned him a spot on Business Plus magazine’s “40 Under 40”. Gillespie holds a BSc in Marketing from Technological University Dublin.
Sarah Glavey, Head of Marketing Cairn Homes
Sarah Glavey is Head of Marketing at Cairn, where she leads the company’s B2C marketing, brand and customer strategy across its national residential development portfolio. She is responsible for driving integrated marketing performance at scale, aligning brand, customer experience and commercial objectives to support Cairn’s continued growth in Ireland’s housing market.
Her ongoing focus is on expanding marketing’s influence at enterprise level, supporting Cairn’s long-term growth strategy through brand, experience, and commercial excellence.
Prior to joining Cairn, Glavey spent over a decade at The Merrion Hotel in Dublin, where she advanced through a range of commercial and marketing roles.
Business & Finance CMO 100 Index 2025 (alphabetical by surname):
