By Business & Finance 
The Business & Finance CFO 100 Index 2021, in association with Sia Partners, recognises the top 100 Chief Financial Officers working across some of the most innovative companies in Ireland and the UK today.
To launch this Index, Business & Finance is hosting a virtual thought leadership panel discussion on the key issues facing the CFO today. The theme is: The Evolving Role of the CFO, the importance of flexible business models and investment in technology in an unpredictable world.
Business & Finance Managing Editor Sarah Freeman opened the event and was followed by David Cass, Partner, Sia Partners, who delivered a keynote Partner Address.
Watch the CFO 100 Index Webinar on-demand video.
To download the full list, please click here.
Here is Part 2 of a four-part Index.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Niall Dolan, Chief Financial Officer,
Applegreen
Niall Dolan is Chief Financial Officer at Applegreen. He began working in Applegreen PLC in 2015 as Head of Corporate Finance & Treasury. He took on the role of Chief Financial Officer in July 2017. Prior to Applegreen, Dolan worked as CFO for ISS Facility Services Ireland and was Divisional Financial Controller for One51 plc before that. He also worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers for four years from 1995. Dolan studied Commerce at University College Dublin and followed that with a Master’s of Accounting, Accounting and Finance.
Siobhán Dowling, Finance Director,
Salesforce
Siobhán Dowling, Finance Director at Salesforce, is a Qualified Chartered Accountant with commercial analysis, strategy, audit and financial accounting experience within large multinationals. She is committed to providing accurate and timely business insights. On a personal level, Dowling is flexible, dedicated and self motivated.
Thady Duggan, Senior Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Enterprise Value,
Accenture
Thady Duggan is a Senior Manager at Accenture Ireland, where he leads the Chief Financial Officer and Enterprise Value strategy in Ireland. Duggan is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of experience in both large and small multinationals. He was awarded a first class honours in the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School MBA. Duggan’s career reflects a track record in successfully implementing change and managing international finance teams, combined with strong analytical, organisational, reporting and interpersonal skills. At Accenture Strategy, he is using the skills and knowledge he has gained to date to work with his colleagues to deliver solutions to complex strategic issues for clients, mainly related to the CFO agenda.
Bernard Egan, Finance Director,
Riot Games
Bernard Egan took on the role of Finance Director at Riot Games in February 2020. There, he leads a team of 30 responsible for Accounting, Controlling, Taxation, FP&A, Insights and Commercial Operations for Riot’s European business as well as supporting other regions. Riot Games was founded in 2006 to change the way video games are developed, published, and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title, League of Legends, which has gone on to become the most-played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, and has over 2,500+ employees (Rioters) in over 20 offices worldwide. Prior to his joining Riot Games, Egan worked at Coupang, and before that he spent over ten years in finance roles at eBay. Bernard Egan studied Commerce in the National University of Galway and is undertaking a Master’s of Business Administration at the Edinburgh Business School.
Brice Evin, Chief Financial Officer,
Vodafone Ireland
Brice Evin was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Vodafone Ireland in October 2020 and is responsible for the strategic direction of Vodafone Ireland, managing complex digital and business transformation programmes, expansion, and data strategies. Vodafone is Ireland’s number one communications provider with 2.3 million customers across its mobile, fixed and TV services, employing nearly 3,000 people nationwide. Vodafone has invested more than €2billion in critical network infrastructure and new technologies in Ireland, and is committed to connecting for good and enabling an inclusive and sustainable digital society Prior to joining Vodafone, Evin spent three years as Head of Finance, Consumer Business Unit for VodafoneZiggo. He first began working at Vodafone in 2009 as a Mergers & Acquisitions Manager. He spent 8 years augmenting his experience and ultimately secured the role of Head of Finance Europe Region. His educational background includes a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from IMT Atlantique and an MBA, Management from INSEAD.
Brian Fagan, Finance Director,
IRES Fund Management Ltd
Brian Fagan has been Finance Director of IRES REIT plc since April 2021. Prior to his appointment at IRES REIT plc, he was Chief Financial Officer of Island Capital between 2014 and 2021. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a diploma in Professional Accounting, both from University College Dublin. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Liam Fahey, Financial Controller,
Portwest
Liam Fahey is Financial Controller of Portwest, a global clothing manufacturing company who specialise in flame-resilient and high-visibility workwear and PPE, based in Westport, Ireland. Portwest were the first recipients of the Business & Finance Awards Elevation Award in 2018.
Brendan Feeney, Chief Financial Officer,
Valeo Foods
Brendan Feeney joined Valeo Foods in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer. Previously, he held senior CFO roles with Kingspan Group Plc across Ireland, the UK, Western Europe, North America and Australia between 2000 and 2012. Before that, Feeney worked with Deloitte in Ireland.
Pat Fenlon, Executive Director, Group Finance & Commercial,
ESB
Pat Fenlon is Chief Financial Officer at ESB Group. He was appointed in July 2016. Prior to his current role, Pat Fenlon held a number of senior financial and general management positions across ESB including General Manager of Electric Ireland, Corporate Change Manager and Group Finance & Commercial Manager. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dublin before joining ESB in 1993.
Saragh Fitzpatrick, Chief Financial Officer,
Houses of the Oireachtas
Saragh Fitzpatrick is a qualified ACCA accountant working as the Chief Financial Officer at the Houses of the Oireachtas Service, with responsibility for a budget of approximately €150 million per annum. She previously worked as Director of Finance and Corporate Governance with Caranua (Residential Institutions Statutory Fund), with charge of the financial management of the voluntary fund provided for the support of survivors of institutional abuse. Saragh Fitzpatrick also fulfilled the function of Data Protection Officer in that organisation. She has worked as an Auditor with the Health Service Executive, tasked with auditing a wide range of organisations funded by the HSE and TUSLA, and prior to that with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, auditing Government departments and educational institutes. She has 14 years’ experience in the Life Assurance industry, as a Product Development and Management professional with experience in project management and working in a multi-dimensional team.
Mike Fives, Head of Finance,
Virgin Media
Mike Fives is Head of Finance at Virgin Media, who is a commercially focused Big 4 qualified Chartered Accountant. He has over 13 years post qualification experience in both public and privately-owned businesses. He has worked in broadcast and digital media, telecommunications and FMCG. As a leader he has a proven track record in improving team engagement and performance as well as delivering on internal and external deadlines. He has a very strong communication and interpersonal skills. As a team player, Fives builds relationships across functions, geographies and amongst teams, supporting and challenging as required to deliver the best outcomes.
Donal Galvin, Chief Financial Officer,
AIB
Donal Galvin joined AIB as Group Treasurer in September 2013 and was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer in March 2019. He was appointed as an Executive Director to the Board of AIB in May 2021. Galvin has gained significant experience working in domestic and international financial markets over the last 25 years. Prior to joining AIB, Galvin held a number of senior executive roles including Managing Director in Mizuho Securities Asia, Managing Director of Dutch Rabobank, and Treasurer of Rabobank International.
Catherine Gubbins, Group Chief Financial Officer,
DAA PLC
Catherine Gubbins was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer at DAA PLC in May 2021 and has been a member of the DAA Group executive team for a number of years. Previous to that Gubbins was Director of Finance, having initially joined the DAA Group as Group Financial Controller in December 2014. Prior to this, she worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers for 17 years and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Gubbins is responsible for the group finance function, Shared Services centre, group procurement and legal functions. As well as providing strategic direction in these areas this includes responsibility for all financial governance, reporting and controls across the Group as well as FP&A, Treasury (including raising of all external debt), Taxation, Procurement and Legal. Gubbins also has primary responsibility for management of key external financial stakeholder relationships including with lenders, banking partners and our rating agency. She is a director of Aer Rianta International cpt and Aer Rianta International (Middle East) wll, and a number of other DAA group subsidiaries including DAA International Ltd and DAA Finance plc.
Paul Hunt, Finance Director Global Innovation,
Diageo
Paul Hunt has been the Finance Director for Global Innovation at Diageo since 2015. Innovation is a key strategic lever for Diageo, accounting for more than 15% of Diageo’s global turnover. An experienced strategic finance and commercial leader with a passion for global business, Paul Hunt has previously worked in Australia and Amsterdam with Diageo (Finance Director for Benelux prior to his latest role). Along with his significant FMCG experience, he has also worked in technology, where he spent almost four years in Commercial Finance and Financial Controller roles with Dell. Hunt is also a Board member of Pulpex, a market-leading packaging technology company with a single-minded mission to step-change sustainability through renewable packaging. He holds a Bachelor of Business Studies, French and Commerce degree from Trinity College Dublin, and is qualified through the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA).
Emma Hynes, Chief Financial Officer,
Greencore
Emma Hynes joined Greencore as Chief Financial Officer Designate in April 2020 and became Chief Financial Officer in May 2020. She has responsibility for Group Finance and Risk Management. Hynes has held a number of senior finance roles during her career, including more latterly as chief financial officer of Press Up Entertainment Group. Prior to joining Press Up Entertainment Group in 2019, Hynes spent over 11 years with Greencore in a variety of finance leadership roles. Her most recent role at Greencore was Group Finance Director where she led a large finance function responsible for financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, financing and capital management, treasury, tax, strategic finance projects and corporate activity.
Pat Jennings, Chief Financial Officer,
Malin Corporation plc
Pat Jennings began his financial career in 2008 with KPMG Ireland where he worked in Audit and Transaction Services. He then moved to Elan Pharmaceuticals before working with Digicel Group as Head of Finance of one of their largest Caribbean fibre and mobile markets. Pat Jennings is currently Group Chief Financial Officer of Malin Corporation plc, having joined Malin in 2015. In addition to his role as Group CFO, he has also served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer of a number of the Group’s investee companies. Malin invests in and supports innovative life sciences companies developing exceptional science and technology to deliver transformative outcomes for patients and create significant value for shareholders.
Peter Johnston, Chief Financial Officer,
Norbrook Laboratories
Peter Johnston joined Norbrook in February 2020 as Chief Financial Officer and has overall responsibility for Finance and IT. Johnston has more than 30 years’ experience in Finance including over 25 years as a Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer and has several years of experience as a Board Director. He started his career as an Auditor in Deloitte before moving to JS Fisher as Group Chief Accountant. Johnston progressed his career in James E Ball Ltd as Group Financial Controller before moving to the role of Divisional Chief Financial Officer in Kingspan Environmental & Renewables. Johnston remained with Kingspan for 16 years, before moving to WD Irwin Group as Chief Financial Officer before joining the Keystone Group in 2016.
Marie Joyce, Chief Financial Officer,
NTR Plc
Marie Joyce is Chief Financial Officer and board director of NTR plc, having spent over 17 years with the group in various subsidiary CFO roles as well as central management positions. NTR is a sustainable infrastructure investor and institutional fund manager which acquires, develops, constructs and operates utility scale renewable infrastructure investments across international markets. In addition, Joyce is a non-executive director on the board DAA plc, a global airports and travel retail group with businesses in 16 countries, and also a non-executive board director of Staycity Group, one of Europe’s leading aparthotel operators. She also currently serves on the Programme Board of the MSc. in International Accounting and Analytics Degree of NUI Galway as well as the Sustainability Expert Working Group of Chartered Accountants Ireland. She is formerly the Chair of the Board of Make-A-Wish Ireland. Prior to NTR, Joyce was Senior Director of Strategic Planning for Élan Corporation plc and was previously an Audit & Corporate Finance Manager at Arthur Andersen. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Galway and a Master of Accounting from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. She is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Andrea Keane, Chief Financial Officer,
Dublin Bus
Andrea Keane is Chief Financial Officer at Dublin Bus. She believes strongly in the value of teamwork and the need to innovate to get the best results and drive business forward. As Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Company Secretary of Dublin Bus, Keane is a member of the Dublin Bus Leadership Team. She is accountable to the Board for financial stewardship of the company and for ensuring that the highest standards of Corporate Governance are in place within Dublin Bus.
Barry Kelly, Chief Financial Officer,
NBI
Barry Kelly is the Chief Financial Officer of NBI, responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting, control, reporting and investor relations. Kelly joined NBI in 2020 with over 25 years of finance and commercial experience ranging from small entrepreneurial businesses and start-ups to publicly quoted multi-nationals and private equity concerns. His previous roles include serving as the M&A Director in Valeo Foods and Senior Director of Transaction Services at KPMG Ireland. Kelly is a Fellow of Chartered Accountancy Ireland.
TJ Kelly, Group Chief Financial Officer,
Origin Enterprises Plc
TJ Kelly was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director at Origin Enterprises Plc on 18 January 2021. Kelly was previously at Hostelworld Group plc, where he held the role of Chief Financial Officer and was a member of the Board. Prior to this, he worked in the US and Ireland with Glanbia plc for 12 years, where he held a number of senior leadership roles, including Chief Financial Officer of the Performance Nutrition Business and Group Financial Controller with responsibility for Investor Relations. Kelly has also held senior finance positions in Microsoft, GE Capital and eir. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and completed his training with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Business & Finance CFO 100 (alphabetical by surname):
View part one (A-D)
View part two (D-K)
View part three (L-O)
View part four (P-W)
