Appointments

New and notable appointments at Fuzion Communications, Matheson, Logicalis, Guaranteed Irish, Soldo, Augustus Cullen Law LLP, and Colliers International Ireland

By Business & Finance
11 February 2021
Pictured: Aoibhinn Twomey, Account Director, Fuzion Communications

This week sees new and notable appointments at Fuzion Communications, Matheson, Logicalis, Guaranteed Irish, Soldo, Augustus Cullen Law LLP, and Colliers International Ireland


Aoibhinn Twomey, Account Director,
Fuzion Communications

Aoibhinn Twomey has rejoined Fuzion Communications as an Account Director. Aoibhinn returns to agency work from the in-house corporate roles she held as Head of Communications with Dairygold and internal communications with Laya Healthcare.

Apart from Aoibhinn’s broad agency experience working with Government agencies, charities, large corporates and SMEs, Aoibhinn’s expertise has been further strengthened in particular by her experience leading communications and reputation management for the international food and retail brand of Dairygold.

Seasoned in strategic communications, internal communications and reputation management,

Aoibhinn is at ease advising, developing and activating integrated and impactful strategies for national and global organisations while also supporting accounts across the hospitality, consumer and SME sectors.

As well as her strategic expertise, Aoibhinn brings adaptability, flexibility and tenacity to her role, honed from her work as a former assistant editor, journalist and freelancer to local, national and international publications such as Women’s Health & Fitness, Sunday World, Sunday Independent, Irish Independent and Dublin People Newspaper Group throughout the period from 2006 to 2013.

Aoibhinn, who holds a degree in Journalism and Media Communications, is delighted to rejoin the team at Fuzion Communications where she previously worked for over 3 years: “It’s exciting to be part of an agency, working in a sharp and fast-paced environment to deliver a wide range of services to diverse clients across so many different sectors.

“Now more than ever, the role of communications is changing and evolving as are the strategies and tools that are required to meet the needs of our clients and their businesses. It keeps you on your toes making it all the more valid, challenging and rewarding.”


Caroline Austin, Angela Brennan, Paul Carroll, Catriona Cole, Louise Dobbyn, Stephen Gardiner, Sandra Lord, Cillian O’Boyle, Partners,
Matheson

Irish law firm Matheson has announced the appointment of eight new partners across a range of practice areas.

Managing Partner of Matheson, Michael Jackson said:

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of eight new partners to the firm, and congratulate them on their achievement. The range of sectors encompassed by these appointments reflects both the breadth of technical and legal knowledge in Matheson, and the broad sectoral composition of our client base. It also reflects our ability, as a full service commercial law firm, to support indigenous and global clients with an international focus.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on all sectors, we continue to see strong levels of activity from both domestic businesses and multinationals across many sectors, including M&A, corporate restructuring, technology, life sciences, energy, financial services and dispute resolution – as Irish companies continue to expand into new markets and international companies continue to expand their already significant footprint in Ireland and contribute directly and indirectly to the local economies and communities in which they are located.”

“As we announce our eight new partner appointments at the firm, I am also pleased that 41% of the partnership at Matheson is female, and that 50% of our partner appointments over the last 3 years have been female.” commented Jackson.

“Finally, I would like to sincerely thank everyone at the firm for their commitment and dedication over the course of the last 12 months in meeting the legal needs of our clients – and particularly as we continue to work together through the challenges of the pandemic. Everyone at Matheson was delighted to see the Law Society of Ireland confirm Matheson as Ireland’s largest law firm last week. As a firm, our commitment to the Matheson values – and to supporting our legal and business professionals to make meaningful contributions to our clients, each other and our society – has remained to the forefront at Matheson throughout the challenges of the pandemic.”

The eight new Matheson partners and their practice areas are:  Caroline Austin (Tax), Angela Brennan (Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution), Paul Carroll (Finance and Capital Markets), Catriona Cole (Asset Management and Investment Funds), Louise Dobbyn (Corporate Financial Institutions Group), Stephen Gardiner (Financial and Capital Markets), Sandra Lord (Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions), Cillian O’Boyle (Commercial Real Estate).

In addition to Matheson’s new partner announcement, 2021 has also seen the appointment of 20 newly-qualified solicitors at the firm.

About Matheson’s eight new partners:

Caroline Austin (Tax) advises clients on cross-border tax planning, transfer pricing, tax controversy matters and inward investment projects.  Caroline has extensive experience in international corporate restructurings, as well as mergers and acquisitions on a national and international level.  A Chartered Tax Advisor, Caroline is also a member of the Law Society of Ireland, and is co-author of the Irish Chapter of the IBFD’s publication on Transfer Pricing.

Angela Brennan (Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution) is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. Angela has over 12 years’ experience in commercial and financial services dispute resolution, shareholder disputes, insurance coverage and regulatory disputes and corporate restructuring and insolvency matters. Angela is a committee member of the Commercial Law Committee of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association and a member of the Irish Society of Insolvency Practitioners and INSOL. Angela has tutored on the professional practice course of the Law Society of Ireland and regularly contributes to industry publications.

Paul Carroll (Finance and Capital Markets) advises clients on syndicated and bilateral lending transactions, leveraged acquisition financings, real estate financings, receivables financings, project finance and debt restructurings.  Paul originally began his career at Matheson and returned to the firm in 2020 following four years in London.  As a result of this experience, Paul has particular expertise in cross-border financing and corporate transactions

Catriona Cole (Asset Management and Investment Funds) practices financial services law, and advises many of the world’s leading financial institutions, investment banks, asset management companies and service providers who do business in Ireland or through Irish vehicles.  Catriona is a member of the Irish Funds Events Working Group, and also sits on the Dublin Chapter leadership committee for global industry group, Women in ETFs and was responsible for running its EMEA mentoring scheme during 2018 / 2019.  Catriona is also a member of the firm’s Mindful Business Charter committee.

Louise Dobbyn (Corporate Financial Institutions Group) advises banks, investment firms, asset managers, fund promoters, fintech firms, payment and e-money institutions, trading platforms, intermediaries and brokers on all aspects of Irish and EU financial regulations, and compliance and related matters.  Louise also was a regulatory change secondee at an investment bank in London.

Stephen Gardiner (Finance and Capital Markets) advises some of the world’s largest financial institutions and leading aviation industry participants on a variety of transactions and financing products utilising Irish corporate structures.  Stephen was named as a key lawyer in transport in Ireland by Legal 500 in 2020 and as a Rising Star by Airfinance Journal in 2019.  He is a faculty member of The Law Society of Ireland’s Certificate and Diploma courses in Aviation Leasing and Finance.

Sandra Lord (Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions) advises clients on international and domestic mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, investment agreements, joint ventures and leveraged buyouts.  She also counsels corporate clients on a broad range of governance and business-related matters, including directors’ duties and general compliance matters.  She has represented public and private companies, institutional investors and financial intermediaries engaged in a variety of industries and sectors.

Cillian O’Boyle (Commercial Real Estate) advises both domestic and international lenders on all property aspects of real estate security, from the taking of security through to the enforcement of same.  Originally from Limerick, Cillian also has considerable experience in general commercial property work including acquisitions and disposals and commercial landlord and tenant work, as well as experience in the renewables sphere.


Frank Rubotham, Head of Cisco Alliance and Propositions,
Logicalis Ireland

Frank Rubotham, Head of Cisco Alliance and Propositions, Logicalis Ireland

Logicalis Ireland, the IT Solutions and Managed Services provider, today announces the appointment of Frank Rubotham as its Head of Cisco Alliance and Propositions.

Frank will be responsible for managing the strategic alliance between Cisco and Logicalis in Ireland, supporting the company’s Global Gold partnership status. He will be building on the success of Logicalis Ireland in this area and driving further business growth by investing and developing the organisation’s Cisco offerings and overall relationship.

Furthermore, Frank will be managing the development and rollout of new propositions based on emerging technologies across various areas including cloud, collaboration, security and software-based networking.

With more than 30 years of experience in the ICT industry – working in senior levels across technical, commercial and business areas both in Ireland and the UK – Frank possesses the necessary expertise to deliver large-scale, complex technology and service projects for customers.

Frank joined Logicalis Ireland from eir Business, where he served as a senior member of the management team and was responsible for the company’s outsourcing and managed service contracts. Prior to that, he managed eir’s client relationships in the public and private sectors, having moved from the aviation division of the business. Earlier in his career, Frank worked for BT in the UK.

Speaking about the latest addition to the Logicalis Ireland team, Darren O’Sullivan, Sales Director for Logicalis Ireland, said: “Frank has spent more than 15 years working with Cisco solutions in Ireland and has unrivalled expertise in the marketplace. He will enable Logicalis Ireland, as architects of change, to implement the highest quality solutions for customers which drive digital transformation and deliver business resilience. Frank is a fantastic addition to the team and a testament to our commitment to continued growth in the Irish market.”


Geraldine Jones, Managing Director,
Publicis Dublin

Publicis Dublin has today announced the appointment of Geraldine Jones as its new Managing Director following the planned departure of Managing Director, Padraig Burns. Mr. Burns, who has successfully led Publicis’ Irish arm since 2010, will be stepping down at the end of July.

Ms. Jones, who currently acts as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and has worked at the company for 20 years, will take up her new role in August. She will be responsible for overseeing a team of 60 employees servicing some of the most innovative and respected brands in the market. In addition to her extensive industry expertise, Ms. Jones has also played an integral role in helping to shape and build, not only the strong culture and company ethos, but the future direction of the business in Ireland.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Jones said, “I am honoured to be appointed as the new Managing Director of Publicis Dublin as we head into a very exciting future. The vision the team and I share for our Creative Consultancy offers clients something unique in the market.”

During his tenure as Managing Director, Mr. Burns guided the evolution of the business from a traditional advertising agency to the successful multidisciplinary Creative Consultancy it is today.

Commenting on his retirement from the business, Padraig Burns said, “I’m very proud of all that the Publicis Dublin team has achieved in recent years. It’s been an honour to lead such a talented group and I know that Publicis will continue to thrive under Geraldine’s stewardship.”

“Geraldine embodies the spirit of what has made Publicis the successful company it is today – a company that continuously adapts to a changing business and communications landscape”.

Ms. Jones added, “On behalf of myself and the wider Publicis team I wish Padraig the very best with his future plans.”


Camilla Cullinane, Tax Partner at KPMG Ireland, Board Member,
Guaranteed Irish Board of Directors

Guaranteed Irish, the business membership network championing 1,500+ homegrown and indigenous businesses in Ireland, has appointed Camilla Cullinane, Tax Partner at KPMG Ireland, to its Board of Directors. Camilla Cullinane has over 17 years’ experience advising a wide range of Irish and multinational clients across many sectors including agriculture, property, hospitality and manufacturing. She works closely with businesses of all sizes and their owners on all aspects of taxation. She has significant experience in advising these clients on a wide variety of issues including structuring their corporate affairs, financing arrangements, global expansion plans, rewarding employees, exit strategies and intergenerational transfers of wealth. Camilla is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, the Irish Tax Institute and has recently completed the STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising the Family Business.

Members of Guaranteed Irish benefit from the expertise and collective experience of its Board of Directors, currently comprised of senior Irish industry and business leaders such as:

  • Paddy Kelly, Managing Director, Extex Ireland Ltd and Chairperson of the Board
  • Ray Kelly, Marketing Director, Musgrave Retail Partners
  • Michael Jackson, Managing Partner, Matheson
  • Mairead McCaul, Managing Director, MSD Ireland (Human Health)
  • Damien McCann, Director of Sales & Marketing, Viatel
  • Brid O’Connell, CEO, Guaranteed Irish

Guaranteed Irish is one of Ireland’s most enduring, recognisable and authentic symbols. The Guaranteed Irish symbol helps Irish consumers identify products and services that are a better choice for jobs and local communities in Ireland. Businesses that have been awarded the Guaranteed Irish mark have fulfilled the following criteria:

  • People & Jobs: Businesses that provide quality, sustainable jobs for people living in Ireland.
  • Place/ Provenance: Businesses that genuinely operate and add value in Ireland.
  • Enterprise & Community: Businesses that meaningfully engage with the local communities in which they are based.

Paddy Kelly, Managing Director, Extex Ireland Ltd and Chairperson of the Board, says “I am delighted to welcome Camilla to the Board of Directors of Guaranteed Irish. We are delighted to have the calibre of a business such as KPMG and the experience Camilla can share with us on the board will be invaluable to our 1,500 business members.”

Brid O’Connell, CEO of Guaranteed Irish, says: “Our Board of Directors plays a crucial role in ensuring that Guaranteed Irish remains the symbol of trust and provenance for businesses operating in Ireland today. Camilla brings with her a wealth of professional and personal experiences of working with a variety of Irish-based brands and we are delighted to welcome her to Guaranteed Irish. Camilla’s extensive knowledge of taxation across many sectors in Ireland will prove to be a valuable asset to our Board of Directors, as we look to expand further into this sector and uphold the high level of integrity associated with the Guaranteed Irish brand.”


Patrick Hayes, Director of Financial Operations,
Soldo

Soldo, the spend management platform with its European Headquarters in Dublin, has appointed Patrick Hayes as Director of Financial Operations. Mr Hayes joins the fast-expanding fintech company from Prepaid Financial Services where he served as COO and brings with him extensive experience of the banking and payments sector as well as substantial knowledge of the fintech landscape.

Mr Hayes has worked for some of the largest players in the payments space, including Mastercard, Ingenico and Fiserv (previously First Data), across numerous locations globally such as Australia, Dubai and Hong Kong.

Patrick Hayes, Director of Financial Operations, Soldo

Speaking on his appointment, Mr Hayes said: “I am delighted to be joining Soldo at this stage of the company’s growth. Having spent many years working overseas, it is exciting to be back based in Dublin to lead Soldo’s very ambitious plans for European expansion in 2021.

“There is an incredibly strong fintech hub here in Ireland which makes it the perfect base for Soldo’s European Headquarters to be the powerhouse for our expansion this year and in future years across Europe.

“There is an ever-growing number of fintech companies here and I’m very excited about the ambitious plans Soldo have for 2021.”

Mr Hayes will also serve as CEO of Soldo Financial Services Ireland DAC.


Deirdre Courtney, Commercial Litigation,
Augustus Cullen Law LLP

Augustus Cullen Law LLP has today announced the appointment of a new partner, Deirdre Courtney, in the Commercial Litigation department.

The leading Irish law firm currently employs a team of almost 50 people between their Dublin and Wicklow offices. Augustus Cullen Law LLP has a diverse range of practice areas, including medical negligence, general and commercial litigation, corporate advice, construction, property, probate, planning and environmental law and family law.  

With over 25 years of experience in the areas of commercial litigation and dispute resolution, Deidre has acted for national and international clients across all levels of the Irish Courts, in adjudications, arbitrations and mediations, and before Tribunals and Inquiries. Her particular areas of expertise include commercial litigation, planning and environmental law, property disputes, compulsory purchase, banking litigation, media law and construction disputes. 

Augustus Cullen Law LLP Managing Partner, Joice Carthy said: “We are delighted to welcome Deirdre to our team as a partner. Joining the firm with a wealth of knowledge and experience, her appointment will play a vital role in the continuing expansion of our practice.” 

“With growing activity in commercial litigation, construction, and planning and environmental law Deirdre will be an invaluable asset to the firm. We look forward to working with Deirdre in continuing to deliver legal advice at the highest standard for our clients.” 

A graduate of National University of Ireland Galway, Deirdre qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and is a member of Lawyers against Homelessness, the Dublin Bar Association and the Commercial Law Association as well as being a board member of the NUI Galway Foundation. 

Speaking on her appointment, Deirdre said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Augustus Cullen Law LLP. I look forward to contributing to the ongoing outstanding work of the firm, particularly within the Commercial Litigation department.”  

“I have built up considerable specialist expertise in commercial litigation and commercial dispute resolution over the course of my career, and I am excited to collaborate with the team to add value for clients in these areas.” 


Patrick Ryan and James Farrelly, Head of Hotels and Leisure, and Head of Landlord and Tenant, respectively,
Colliers International Ireland

Colliers International Ireland has appointed Patrick Ryan as head of hotels and leisure, and James Farrelly as head of landlord and tenant, in its valuation and advisory department.

Patrick Ryan has spent over 30 years in the hospitality industry. His formative career years with Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation saw him work in New York, Paris and finally London. In 1989 he joined leading hotel surveyors Christie + Co in London and spent two decades selling, purchasing and financing hotels on behalf of corporate clients. He was a Board Director of Christie + Co for many years and the Managing Director of Christie Finance. His return to Ireland coincided with the advent of NAMA, which he joined in 2010 as a Senior Property Advisor – Hotels and Leisure, with responsibility for 7% of NAMAs total loan book by asset type which consisted of 200 hotels or 57,000 rooms. Patrick is a fellow of the British Institute of Hospitality (BIH) and a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland ( SCSI).

James Farrelly has over 17 years’ experience in the property industry. He has amassed a wealth of experience having worked previously for international retailer Lidl, Lambert Smith Hampton Surveyors (where he led the valuation function) and IPUT. Managing director, Declan Stone commented on the appointment; “Patrick is an industry heavyweight in terms of the Irish hotels and leisure market. His vast experience of the market and particularly in challenging times will assist our clients, investors and operators greatly as the sector works towards stabilisation. Patrick will focus on growing both our advisory and agency lines in conjunction with our respective agency and advisory departments.”

Announcing the recent appointments, Declan Stone commented; “The board and I are delighted to secure the expertise and experience of James Farrelly in the role as head of landlord and tenant, commercial rates and CPO. James will lead the strategic development of these critical professional services areas which form an integral part of our service lines and the continued growth of Colliers advisory service business in Ireland. James’ depth of expertise in professional services, occupational markets and investment management will significantly benefit our clients”.