Pictured: Frank Gleeson, President & CEO of Aramark Northern Europe
Ibec, the group that represents Irish businesses, is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Gleeson, President and CEO of Aramark Northern Europe, as its new President for 2021 to 2022. He succeeds Alastair Blair, Country Managing Director for Accenture in Ireland.
Reflecting the success of the country’s vaccination rollout to date, the annual handover of the Presidency was formalised at Ibec’s National Council, the group’s first in-person event for over 18 months.
Marking the announcement, Mr. Gleeson said, “It is with great pride that I take on the role of Ibec President for the next 12 months. During this time, I look forward to bringing my passion for hospitality and consumer experience to support Ibec’s ongoing engagement with Government and leading stakeholders. There is a wide range of topics on our agenda, but I will have a particular focus on addressing Ireland’s continued re-opening, our climate and societal challenges, as well as the potential impact of future Covid disruptions.”
Frank’s experience and insights will play a crucial role in supporting Ibec’s work as the leading voice of Irish business
Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said, “It is a real privilege to have someone with such impressive credentials in the position of Ibec President. Frank’s experience and insights will play a crucial role in supporting Ibec’s work as the leading voice of Irish business, both domestically and on an international platform.”
Frank Gleeson is President and CEO of Aramark Northern Europe. Aramark is one of the largest integrated providers of food services, facilities management, retail operations, and property services in the region.
In his current role, Frank serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Council of Aramark Corporation. He is responsible for operations that span Ireland, the UK, and a Global Offshore business in the North Sea, Middle East, and Mexican Gulf – encompassing a workforce in excess of 15,000 people at any one time.
Frank joined Aramark in 2013 from Topaz Energy Group where he was Retail Director. Prior to that, he served in senior leadership positions for Statoil, O’Brien’s Off-Licenses, and began his retail operations career in Xtra-Vision Ireland.
Since starting out as a teenager in a family restaurant and cafés, Frank has always placed a significant focus on the hospitality and customer-service side of business. He truly believes in the power of terrific customer experience, as well as the importance of on-the-job learning and development.
A graduate of the Irish Management Institute, Frank has been a board member of Ibec since 2016, and earlier this year was re-appointed to Government’s Labour Market Advisory Council, chairing its employers’ sub-group. He is a former Chairman of Retail Ireland; a former board member of the National Transport Authority, and was elected Chairman of NACS, the international trade association of convenience stores.