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CFO 100 Index 2025 in association with Sia — Part 4

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The Business & Finance CFO 100 Index 2025, in association with Sia, recognises the top 100 Chief Financial Officers working across some of the most innovative companies in Ireland and the UK today.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Allnassir Rajabaly, CFO
CACI Dublin

Allnassir Rajabaly joined CACI as Chief Financial Officer in July 2020. Since 2003, Mr Rajabaly had worked for BNP Paribas before finishing up his role as Chief Risk and Financial Officer in 2020. Rajablaly started his career as a Life Actuary at AXA in 1999. A few years later, he joined the BNP Paribas Group as an Actuary and later on, a Chief Risk Officer in the Netherlands and Sweden. He then moved to Dublin in 2020 as a CFO for Crédit Agricole Creditor Insurance (CACI). Rajabaly is an alumnus of École Polytechnique.

Dominic Reilly, CFO
Coillte

Dominic Reilly was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Coillte in June 2021, bringing over a decade of experience in senior finance roles within the Coillte Group. A Chartered Accountant by profession and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, Reilly has been instrumental in driving financial strategy and governance for the company.

 

 

 

 

Nick Roberts, CFO
Diaceutics

Nick is a highly experienced senior finance professional with a track record of managing and developing finance functions and governance structures in high-growth AIM-quoted healthcare and technology companies with global customer bases.

Prior to his appointment to Diaceutics PLC, he was Head of Group Reporting at AIM-quoted Ergomed PLC, a full-service pharmacovigilance and specialist clinical trial service provider to the pharma and biotechnology industries. During his tenure, Nick developed and managed the day-to-day group finance reporting requirements for Ergomed plc and oversaw the roll-out of several governance frameworks and reporting projects, including the financial integration of two US business acquisitions. Prior to this, he was Group Financial Controller at AIM-quoted Ceres Power Holdings plc, a fuel cell and electrochemical technology development company, leading the development of the finance function to accommodate a period of considerable commercial and financial growth over four years.

Nick is a Fellow Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Southampton.

Antoine Sage, CFO
Schneider Electric UK and Ireland

Antoine Sage joined Schneider Electric in 2005 and has held several leadership positions within different areas of the business and group. Most recently, he was the Vice President of Strategy for Europe Operations.

During his experience, Sage has led several Finance organisations for Global Functions, French Manufacturing entities and European Industrial Cluster before becoming the Finance Vice President of Secure Power Division for both Europe and International regions. He holds a Master’s degree from Grenoble Business School, GEM, France.

Bríd Saruwatari, Global CFO
Transfermate

Bríd Saruwatari joined TransferMate Global Payments as Group CFO in 2022. Bríd began her career with PWC, and she has since had a lengthy and successful global career spanning over 25 years across many sectors, including insurance, fund administration and credit unions. Her skill set covers all areas of finance and provides leadership in treasury management, financial control, corporate governance, strategic planning, budgeting, financial reporting, audit and compliance. A chartered accountant by profession, Bríd holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin.

David Savage, CFO
Abbott Laboratories

David Savage is the Regional Finance Director at Abbott, a global healthcare device company, where he has held this leadership role for the past nine years. In this position, he oversees financial operations across the region, contributing to Abbott’s mission of advancing healthcare worldwide. Before joining Abbott, David served as Senior Finance Manager at Eli Lilly and Company for over five years, where he gained extensive experience in managing financial strategies within the pharmaceutical industry.

Anna Savage, CFO
Fexco

Anna joined Fexco as Group Chief Financial Officer in October 2021 and subsequently joined the company’s Board of Directors in July 2022. Fexco’s purpose is to deliver great outcomes for its partners through Fresh Thinking and deep relationships across Payments & FX, Business Services and Sustainable Innovation. Anna has 20 years of experience in Banking and Finance. Before Fexco, she was the CFO for AIB Group (UK) plc. She also held senior positions in AIB as Head of Finance for AIB Retail Banking Ireland and Head of Group Management Reporting. Anna is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CGMA) and the Irish Tax Institute (CTA).

John Sheehan, CFO and Director
Ardagh Group

John Sheehan has been the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Ardagh Group since 2021, bringing a wealth of experience in finance and corporate development to the role. Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of Corporate Development and Investor Relations at Ardagh, where he was instrumental in shaping the company’s strategic direction and managing relationships with investors. His leadership in these areas contributed significantly to Ardagh’s growth and market positioning.

Before joining Ardagh in 2012, John spent twelve years in equity capital markets, where he held key roles at prominent financial institutions, including Investec, RBS, and NCB. During this time, he gained extensive experience covering a broad range of industry sectors, with a particular focus on the packaging industry. This background provided him with a deep understanding of market dynamics and investment strategies, which he has leveraged throughout his career.

John began his professional journey by qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he developed a solid foundation in accounting and finance.

Neil Sorahan, Group Chief Financial Officer
Ryanair

Neil Sorahan was appointed CFO of Ryanair in 2014 and Group CFO in 2019.

Prior to this, he served as Ryanair’s Finance Director from June 2006 and Treasurer from January 2003. Before joining Ryanair, Sorahan held various finance and treasury roles at CRH plc. (1992-2002 incl.). He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and ICSA – The Chartered Governance Institute.

Mark Spain, Group Chief Financial Officer
Bank of Ireland

Mark Spain was appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director on March 31st 2022. He was appointed to the Group Executive Committee in July 2019 following his appointment as Chief Strategy Officer in April 2019. He previously held a number of senior management positions in Bank of Ireland, including Director of Group Investor Relations, Director of Group Finance and most recently UK Commercial Director.

Before joining Bank of Ireland, Spain served as a Director of IBI Corporate Finance, where he gained extensive M&A and capital markets experience, advising a number of leading Irish companies, including Bank of Ireland.

Prior to this, he was a senior manager in Diageo plc’s M&A function based in London. He has more than thirty years of experience in financial and accounting roles. Spain is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, having qualified with KPMG.

Paul Stanley, CFO
Elavon

Paul Stanley, based in Ireland, is currently an INED at Elavon Europe. Paul Stanley brings experience from previous roles at Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, Depaul Ireland and Ulster Bank. Paul Stanley holds a 1999 – 2002 Dublin City University degree. With a robust skill set that includes Banking, Financial Risk, Basel II, Credit, Credit Analysis and more.

Andrea Stafford, Head of Finance
Malin Corporation plc

Andrea Stafford was appointed as Head of Finance at Malin in May 2022. Prior to her tenure at Malin, Stafford accumulated extensive experience in senior finance roles at Sebela Pharmaceuticals and Doosan Bobcat. Her career commenced with a significant role at PwC, where she was part of the international and domestic business assurance group in Dublin, contributing to various high-profile projects and audits.

Stafford graduated from the National College of Ireland, where she laid the foundation for her career in finance. She is also a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Paul Stapleton, Executive Director, Group Finance & Commercial
ESB

Paul Stapleton was appointed Executive Director, Group Finance and Commercial at ESB in October 2022. He brings over 30 years of experience, having joined ESB in 1991. Before his current role, Stapleton was the Managing Director of Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks. Throughout his career, he has held numerous senior roles, including General Manager of Electric Ireland, ESB Group Treasurer, and Financial Controller of ESB Networks. His vast expertise spans both finance and managerial positions within the Group. Stapleton is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and also holds the prestigious designation of IOD Chartered Director, showcasing his commitment to leadership and governance.

Monika Starzak, Managing Director; Financial Controller; Chief Financial Officer
Citi; Citibank Europe plc; Citibank Ireland

Monika Starzak is currently the Financial Controller for Citibank Europe Plc (CEP) cluster and Ireland CFO with responsibilities over CEP consolidated regulatory reporting and financial controls, as well as oversight over the Finance function for the Ireland franchise.

She joined Citi in Warsaw, Poland, in March 1997 and held various roles in Finance, including Bank Handlowy Financial Controller – Citi Legal Entity with minority shareholders based in Poland and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Tax Head, Strategic Cost Management and Expense processing Head for Citibank Poland.

In 2017, she relocated with her family to Dublin to take over the responsibility of Citibank Europe Financial Controller. She began working at KPMG Poland Banking Audit team in September 1993, before joining Citi.

Starzak is a graduate of Warsaw University, Department of Economics and IESE Business School.

Mary Stone, Finance Director Ireland
Northern Trust

Mary Stone is the Finance Director of Northern Trust and head of EMEA MRPA. She has been with Northern Trust since 2005, holding positions as Head of Finance, Head of EMEA MRPA, and Finance Director before being appointed to her current role in 2014.

Prior to her experience with Northern Trust, Stone was with Baring Asset Management for over twelve years, working in Financial Accountant and Head of Finance roles. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants through Dublin Business School.

Stephen Tighe, CFO
Eir

Group, since October 2013 and interim Chief Commercial Officer since July 2017. Before this, Tighe held the positions of Finance Director in both the Open eir division and the Business division.

He is a chartered accountant (CIMA) and has also completed the Corporate Finance Programme at the London Business School. Tighe and his team support and drive the business in the delivery of the company’s financial and operating plans. The team also manages all Corporate Finance activity, Financial Control and Reporting, Investor Relations, Internal Audit, Property, Pensions and Procurement

Kostas Valančauskas, CFO
Novartis

Kostas Valančauskas is Chief Financial Officer at Novartis. Novartis Ireland’s business includes the Global Service Centre, Sales and Marketing business units in Dublin and Manufacturing and Services in Cork. He has been CFO since July 2024. Valančauskas started his career as an economist in Lithuania and held Finance Analyst and CFO roles before moving to Dublin in 2022 to become Novartis’ CFO. He has been Country CFO since July 2024. Valančauskas is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Richard Watton, Director of Finance
Sky Ireland

Richard Watton currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Sky Ireland, the largest Pay TV provider in the country. In this role, he oversees the financial performance, commercial strategy, and product development of the business. A CIMA qualified accountant and alumnus of London Business School, Watton joined Sky in 2007 from EMI Music. Over the years, he has held various roles within Sky, including positions in Content Syndication and Broadband, gaining extensive experience across the UK and mainland Europe.

Watton’s career prior to Sky includes significant experience in IT consultancy and managed services. His diverse background has equipped him with a robust understanding of both the financial and technical aspects of the telecom and media industries. His leadership at Sky Ireland focuses on driving growth and innovation, ensuring the company’s competitive edge in the market.

Throughout his career, Watton has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence and a strategic vision that have contributed significantly to the success of the organisations he has been part of. His expertise in financial management and strategic planning continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Sky Ireland.

Richard Whelan, CFO
AXA Ireland

Richard Whelan is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at AXA Ireland, a role he has held since June 2007. His career spans over three decades, with significant experience in finance and strategic roles. Before joining AXA, Whelan worked as a Financial Controller at Legal & General Mortgages in the UK and as an Audit Supervisor at Ernst & Young (EY). He has been instrumental in overseeing AXA’s financial operations, underwriting strategies, and long-term strategic planning.

Whelan is a Chartered Accountant, having earned his qualifications from Chartered Accountants Ireland, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Studies from University College Dublin. His extensive background in corporate finance, auditing, and insurance makes him a critical player in AXA’s leadership team. Since joining AXA in 1993, his deep expertise and leadership have been crucial in steering the company’s financial health

John Williamson, CFO
Linesight

John Williamson brings over 23 years of experience in Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) roles across multinational organisations. He joined Linesight in 2019 as Group CFO, where he oversees a wide range of financial operations and strategic initiatives. His extensive career encompasses managing global teams, developing and executing corporate strategies, and leading mergers and acquisitions. John has a proven track record in restructuring and refinancing, as well as raising finance through both debt and capital markets. His expertise also includes guiding companies through initial public offerings (IPOs), management buyouts (MBOs), and multinational expansion.

Business & Finance CFO 100 Index 2025 (alphabetical by surname):

View part one (A–G)

View part two (G-M)

View part three (M-Q)

View part four (R-W)

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