By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Dr Paul O’Keeffe, Head of Research & Education, Airfield Estate
This week sees new and notable appointments at Airfield Estate, Grant Thornton, the European Association of People Management, ICC Belfast, and Exponent
Dr Paul O’Keeffe, Head of Research & Education
Airfield Estate
Dr Paul O’Keeffe, who has already been working as Head of Research & Education since 2024, was formally appointed earlier this week. Dr O’Keeffe brings a background in grassroots development, with a focus on the intersections of food, farming, and education.
On an international scale, Dr O’Keeffe is engaged with Vijana Twaweza Community, a refugee-led agricultural organisation in Kenya that supports food security for displaced communities through fish, fowl, and vegetable production.
Dr Paul O’Keeffe, commenting on his role, said, “Airfield Estate is a unique space where food, farming, and education come together in the heart of the city. I look forward to building on its strong legacy, expanding our educational programmes such as Farmer Time and World of Soil, and ensuring that our research connects with communities and projects here in Ireland and around the world.”
Steve Tennant, EMEA CEO
Grant Thornton Advisors
Steve Tennant has recently been appointed as CEO for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), leading the growth of Grant Thornton.
In his new role, Tennant will continue to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of Grant Thornton Advisors. He will also provide market-leading, multi-jurisdictional support to deliver value for clients.
In recent months, Grant Thornton has expanded its multinational platform across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. To support this growth, the platform has established a new operating structure with regions in the Americas and EMEA.
Mary Connaughton, Board Member,
The European Association of People Management
Mary Connaughton was elected to the Board of the European Association of People Management (EAPM), following a vote at the organisation’s annual meeting in Brussels. She will take up her position in January.
The EAPM, a not-for-profit organisation, is the central organisation of national HR related associations across all of Europe. Its purpose is to improve the quality of HR management and practice to deliver on the core purpose of supporting the development and performance of individuals, companies, and societies.
Following her appointment, Mary Connaughton commented, “It’s a privilege to be given the opportunity to join the Board of the EAPM. I have been contributing to the EAPM for a number of years, co-founding International HR Day held on the 20th of May every year and was chair of its working group until 2024. We welcomed the board of the EAPM to Dublin earlier this year, and I now look forward to deepening Ireland’s engagement as well as expanding the EAPM’s voice and impact.”
Suzanne Wylie, Chair of independent Board of Directors,
ICC Belfast
ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall has announced the appointment of Suzanne Wylie OBE as the new Chair of its independent Board of Directors. She will replace outgoing Chair, Steve Daniels, who served on the Board from 2018 and has completed his term as Chairman.
Suzanne Wylie OBE is the Chief Executive of NI Chamber.
Wylie was formerly Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, from 2014 to 2022, the period in which the riverside extension to the Waterfront Hall was completed and Belfast’s International Convention Centre (ICC Belfast) was launched.
Announcing her appointment as Chair of the Board, Rob McConnell, CEO of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall, said: “The Board warmly welcomes the appointment of Suzanne Wylie, who will bring deep and valuable insights on business across Northern Ireland. She is a highly respected figure in this region and brings with her a wide network of public and private sector linkages. Suzanne understands the tourism and cultural landscape here, she has connected this place to national and international markets, and she has worked at the highest level of civic leadership.
“Suzanne is joining a strong, experienced and diverse Board which is committed to driving this business forward for the benefit of the city and the wider region. She will be leading the Board in the delivery of our visionary new five year business plan, which sets out ambitious growth plans for the delivery of a potential £90.5million economic impact for Northern Ireland. I am confident that Suzanne will bring the strategic leadership needed to support exciting business growth from conferences, conventions and live entertainment in our venues.”
Suzanne Wylie OBE said: “I’m honoured to have been appointed as Chair of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall – landmarks and iconic venues that are significant economic engines for the region. Having been involved at the time of the completion of the convention centre, and understanding the very special role and heritage of the Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall, I hold a particular passion for driving forward the new strategy and growth plans. I have watched from afar for the last number of years as ICC Belfast, in particular, has grown and flourished as a business. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to work along with my colleagues on the board and across the management team to steer the whole organisation towards even greater success.”
Mr McConnell also paid tribute to outgoing Board Chair, Steve Daniels, who has been with the company since 2018. He said: “I would like to put on record the Board’s deep gratitude to Steve Daniels, who has steered the organisation through some fast-paced years of growth, and leaves a lasting legacy for Belfast and Northern Ireland. He also provided steadfast leadership through the extremely difficult period of the pandemic. Under his chairmanship, ICC Belfast, which is still a relative newcomer to the business events industry, has won multiple international conference, convention and event awards, putting Belfast on the map. Steve was heavily involved in steering our new five year business plan and I know he has every confidence that Suzanne will lead its delivery forward with passion, wisdom and intelligence.”
Other non-executive members of the BWUH Ltd board are: JulieAnne Clarke, Consultant Solicitor at law firm Elliotts Legal, previously Elliott Duffy Garrett, Richard Ramsey, Professor of Practice, Economics & Policy, Queen’s Business School, Wilton Farrelly, Asset Services Director at Choice Housing and Patricia Burns, Chief Financial Officer, Belfast City Airport, along with Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive of Visit Belfast and Leo Callow, founder of Callow Events, who both joined the Board in September 2025.
Johnny Sexton, Senior Advisor,
Exponent
Exponent, a European private equity firm, has appointed former Ireland Rugby captain Johnny Sexton as a senior advisor. One of the foremost sporting leaders of his generation, Sexton will bring unique and transferable perspectives on leadership, team building and performance to Exponent and its portfolio.
In his role, Sexton will draw on his experience and insight as both a player and coach for Ireland Rugby and the British & Irish Lions to advise and support portfolio company leaders on individual and team performance, learning from setbacks and communication. Sexton will also work at an individual and team level within Exponent to mentor and provide counsel to colleagues on their own development.
Sexton’s commitment to continuous learning, improvement, and helping teams achieve their best in a sustainable way aligns closely with Exponent’s approach to supporting portfolio companies. Exponent focuses on revenue-driven growth levers that are within a business’s control, and ensuring management teams have the support and resources to achieve their needs.
Johnny Sexton said: “I am excited to partner with Exponent, whose focus on people and on doing things in a different, more sustainable way stood out for me. Over my sports career, my principal focus both as a player and a coach has always been on how I could get the best out of my myself and my teammates to improve team performance. During these years, I learned that to sustain that high performance it is important to incorporate overall wellbeing and to prioritise reviews and recovery. I believe this experience is complementary to Exponent’s approach and look forward to working hands-on with their team and portfolio companies.”
David McGovern, Partner at Exponent, said: “We welcome Johnny to Exponent. He brings unique experience, alongside practical perspectives on leadership and performance which will benefit the management teams we work with, as well as our colleagues at Exponent. His passion for getting the best out of people and his holistic approach to performance are complementary to our ambition to be a thoughtful and innovative partner to our portfolio and provide a supportive environment for our colleagues.”
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