Pictured: Carol Andrews,Balance for Better Business Co-Chair, Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Emer Higgins, Minister of State, and Bernard Byrne
Bernard Byrne, Co-Chair,
Balance for Better Business
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD today announced the appointment of Bernard Byrne as Co-Chair of Balance for Better Business (B4BB), an independent review group established by Government six years ago tasked with improving gender balance in senior business leadership in Ireland.
Bernard will succeed outgoing Co-chair Aongus Hegarty and will work closely with sitting Co-chair Carol Andrews, who assumed the position in May 2023, to deliver on B4BB’s strategy focused on advancing gender balance at board and leadership level in businesses across Ireland.
A founding member of the B4BB Review Group in 2018, outgoing Co-chair, Aongus Hegarty, has co-led the initiative for the past three years and helped to successfully drive improvements in gender balance at leadership level in Irish businesses. During his three years as Co-Chair, Ireland’s largest listed public companies reached a milestone figure of 40% average female representation on company boards.
A deeply experienced strategic and commercial leader, incoming Co-chair Bernard Byrne has a successful track record of managing high-growth public, private and semi-state organisations in the finance and utilities sectors. He is a former CEO of Davy and Chair designate of Cairn Homes, one of Ireland’s largest home builders. He was previously CEO of AIB and prior to that Group Finance and Commercial Director at ESB. A former president of the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, he brings a wealth of expertise in driving change and implementing transformation at large enterprises.
Established in 2018, the Balance for Better Business is an independent business-led Review Group established by the government to improve and promote gender balance at board and leadership level of Irish business. Over the six years since the initiative was established, the levels of female representation on the boards of the largest publicly listed companies in Ireland have increased by 22 percentage points, achieving a key milestone of 40% female representation, and unlocking valuable benefits for organisations around the country.
In May of this year, the initiative launched a new five-year strategy to build on this progress and accelerate change in key focus areas. As part of this strategy, the initiative set a new target for organisations to achieve 40% plus female representation on boards and leadership teams, with the aim of encouraging ambitious progress by business on their gender balance journey.
Commenting on the appointment, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD said: “Gender balance should be a strategic priority for every business. From improved financial performance to increased innovation, prioritising the development of balanced leadership can unlock valuable business benefits that enhance the competitiveness of Irish business. As the incoming Co-chair of the initiative, Bernard will play a critical role in working with the business community to accelerate change and build a more equitable, diverse and inclusive business ecosystem.
I’d like to thank our outgoing Co-chair, Aongus Hegarty for the integral part he has played in steering the work of the initiative over the past three years. During his term as Co-Chair, Irish businesses made significant progress in gender balance at leadership level, with ISEQ20 companies reaching a milestone of 40% average female representation on company boards. However, there is still more work to do. Over the coming months, I’m looking forward to building on this progress and working together with Co-chair Carol Andrews, Bernard and businesses across the country to drive this important work forward and help every organisation realise the benefits of balanced leadership.”
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins TD said: “I am pleased to welcome Bernard Byrne to this deeply important role as Co-chair of the Balance for Better Business initiative. Balance for Better Business plays a crucial part in working with the business community to drive gender balanced leadership across every sector of the economy. His appointment will help Irish businesses across the country accelerate progress on their gender balance journey and achieve a more inclusive business ecosystem that truly reflects Irish society.”
Balance for Better Business Co-Chair, Carol Andrews said: “It has been a privilege to co-lead the Balance for Better Business initiative with Aongus and support businesses around the country advance balanced leadership. His work in developing our five-year strategy has been invaluable and he has helped make a lasting impact on the business landscape.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to welcome Bernard Byrne as the new Co-chair of Balance for Better Business. With leadership experience across a range of large public and private organisations, he has the skills and knowledge to help organisations around the country accelerate change and build a more inclusive system of leadership.”
Speaking on his appointment, Bernard Byrne, incoming Balance for Better Business Co-Chair said: “I am delighted to take up my role as Co-Chair of Balance for Better Business and build on the initiative’s success in driving gender balance across Irish business. Gender balance is a strategic imperative and it’s crucial that we support all organisations, large and small, across every sector of the economy, to realise the benefits of balanced leadership. I’m looking forward to working closely with my Co-Chair Carol Andrews and the Balance for Better Business review group to help businesses across the country accelerate their gender balance journey.”
Sanjay Patel, Chief Operating Officer,
Compass Group Ireland
Sanjay Patel has been appointed Chief Operating Officer at foodservice providers, Compass Group Ireland.
The move, announced by Managing Director, Deirdre O’Neill, will significantly strengthen the company’s senior management team, as the contract catering business consolidates its leading market position and ongoing investment in operational and technology advances.
With 30 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, Sanjay Patel has vast knowledge of catering, facilities management, and technical services. His career began in the UK, at iconic venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Wembley Stadium, Lord’s and The Oval cricket grounds, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal football clubs, and Ascot and Newmarket racecourses.
Patel also worked with Caterair in the airline catering sector, and Granada Motorway Services, managing high street brands and facilities.
In Ireland, management roles with Katesan Naas, Alpha Airports facilities at Dublin Airport, and food and facilities managers, Aramark, as Client Accounts Manager, have seen Sanjay Patel hone exceptional skills.
He initially joined Compass Group in 2013 as Head of Operations and played a significant role in the acquisition of Caterspan. Before rejoining Compass in July this year, Sanjay Patel spent seven years as Key Account Director at ISS Facility Services, providing integrated facility management, catering and technical services for local and global organisations.
Now, leading a Compass Ireland team managing business growth, client engagement and service innovation, Patel’s role reflects an accelerated plan for customer expansion, added-value and new business growth, to drive market-share.
Compass Group Ireland’s foodservice solutions include workplace restaurants, cafés and coffee docks, self-service frictionless food offerings, delivered meal services, and event catering.
A father of two, Sanjay Patel lives in Mullingar with his wife Breege.
Gerry Flanagan and Ryan O’Donnell, Head of Group IT and Chief Delivery Officer, respectively,
Ergo
Pictured: L-R Ryan O’Donnell, Chief Delivery Officer, Ergo and Gerry Flanagan, Head of Group IT, Ergo
Ergo has appointed two senior executives to the leadership team. Gerry Flanagan is joining Ergo to become Head of Group IT and Ryan O’Donnell has been promoted to Chief Delivery Officer.
Gerry Flanagan is joining Ergo as the new Head of Group IT, where he will drive the continuing evolution of Ergo’s internal capabilities, aligning IT strategy to future business growth, and maximising value from existing investments.
Gerry brings with him a deep understanding of IT operations, operating model constructs, and service excellence which will enable him and his team to define and deliver major IT transformation programmes for Ergo’s clients. Prior to joining Ergo, Gerry worked as a Director for Accenture for over twenty years, and as the Global IT Services Lead for Diageo.
Ryan O’Donnell has been promoted to the role of Chief Delivery Officer, joining the Ergo Senior Leadership Team to manage the entire delivery lifecycle of Ergo’s services and workforce planning across Managed Services, Digital, Productivity and Cloud.
Ryan originally joined Ergo in 2022, following the acquisition of Asystec where he worked as a Technical Manager for eight years. Ryan brings with him a wealth of experience in effective workforce planning, collaboration, and a focus on data-driven business decisions.
Ryan will join General Manager of Ergo Northern Ireland, John Molloy, in Ergo’s Belfast branch as the team continues to grow and expand in the region.
Speaking on the recent appointments, Ergo CEO, Paul McCann said: “We are truly thrilled to announce these strategic appointments. These roles are critical to supporting our ambitious growth plans, and will drive efficiencies within the business that allow us to continue to deliver upon our purpose and mission – ensuring that CIOs and business leaders are prepared for today, while planning for tomorrow. As a leader in our field, it’s important we invest in our own IT infrastructure to not only support our team of over 700 IT professionals across Ireland, the UK, Europe, North and South America and Asia Pacific, but also help us scale over time.”
Speaking on his new role, Gerry Flanagan, Head of Group IT said, “I am excited to join the team here in Ergo. As the company goes through a period of rapid growth and expansion, I look forward to working with the senior leadership and wider business to drive the continued evolution of Ergo’s internal capabilities.”
Ryan O’Donnell, Chief Delivery Officer, said: “Over the past number of years, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Ergo, and greatly look forward to taking on this new role as Chief Delivery Officer, working with various teams across the business to ensure that we can drive real business value and maximise our investments.”
Paul O’Brien, Managing Partner for Ireland,
Albany Beck
Paul O’Brien, Managing Partner for Ireland, Albany Beck
Paul O’Brien has been appointed as Managing Partner for Ireland at Albany Beck, a London-based financial services consultancy firm. A highly accomplished financial expert, Paul brings over two decades of industry leadership to the role. Most recently, as CEO of Delta Capita’s Irish operations, Paul was responsible for the business’s growth, transforming it from a six-person team with a single client in 2018 to a thriving enterprise of almost 100 employees serving more than 25 clients.
Paul’s appointment marks a significant milestone in Albany Beck’s rapid expansion in the Irish financial services market. His deep expertise in financial operations, combined with his professional credentials as a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and his Master’s in IT for Accountants, positions him to successfully lead Albany Beck’s growth in Ireland. Paul’s career includes several senior leadership roles at PwC, Delta Capita Consulting, eBay, Pfizer, JP Morgan and Bank of Scotland, where he gained invaluable experience in driving high-performance teams and strategic business transformations.
Albany Beck recruits, trains and deploys consultants for global financial institutions, having first entered the Irish market in 2018. Since then, the company has expanded significantly, creating hundreds of jobs across high-demand sectors such as KYC, AML, fund administration, risk management, and technology. One of its most notable achievements in Ireland has been the launch of its ‘Change Management Solutions’ service, designed to address the evolving needs of its growing client base. Looking ahead, under Pauls’ leadership, Albany Beck aims to continue its momentum by focusing on job creation in emerging areas such as Operations, Data & Technology and Transformation, strengthening its role as a trusted partner for Ireland’s financial institutions.
Adam Kelly, Managing Partner with Albany Beck commented on the appointment: “We are delighted to welcome Paul to the Albany Beck team as Managing Partner for Ireland. His extensive leadership experience and proven track record in driving business growth make him the ideal person to lead our Irish operations at this exciting phase of our expansion. His expertise in financial services, coupled with his strategic vision and ability to deliver results, will be invaluable as we continue to expand our footprint in the Irish market. We’re excited about the new opportunities Paul’s leadership will bring, not only for our clients but also for our team, in helping position Ireland as a leader in innovation, sustainability, and change within the global financial markets”.
Reflecting on his new position, Paul said: “I am eagerly anticipating this new chapter with Albany Beck and am excited to collaborate with the team to drive growth and expansion in the coming years. Albany Beck has already established a strong foothold in the Irish financial services sector, and I am thrilled to join at such a dynamic time in the company’s growth. I look forward to leading Albany Beck’s efforts to build on its success here and position ourselves as the consultancy partner of choice for financial institutions across the region”.
Niall O’Buachalla, Chief Financial Officer,
Quintain Ireland
Niall O’Buachalla, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Quintain Ireland
Quintain Ireland, the country’s largest privately-owned residential developer, has today announced the appointment of Niall O’Buachalla as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Mr. O’Buachalla has over 23 years of experience in real estate finance, covering both the residential and commercial sectors and across various ownership structures including privately-owned, listed, private equity, and family-owned organisations.
Mr. O’Buachalla joins Quintain from McGarrell Reilly Group, the family-owned property company, where he served as CFO. He was previously CFO of Green REIT plc from 2014 to 2019. The company owned a €1.6 billion commercial real estate portfolio and was acquired by private equity real estate firm Henderson Park in late 2019. Following the sale Mr. O’Buachalla joined Henderson Park and remained there until 2021 when he joined McGarrell Reilly Group.
Mr O’Buachalla began his career with Arthur Andersen in Dublin and also held CFO roles with Treasury Holdings and Burlington Real Estate. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
He will assume his role as CFO effective immediately and will be based at Quintain’s Dublin office. He joins Quintain at a key moment as the company recently secured new investment from TPG Real Estate, the dedicated real estate platform of global alternative asset management firm TPG.
The partnership between TPG and Quintain management provides Quintain with the additional capital and resources it requires to support the next stage of the company’s growth as it seeks to accelerate and expand its housing delivery.
Speaking about his appointment, Mr. O’Buachalla said: “I am delighted to join Quintain at such an exciting time in its growth journey. I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success and working closely with Michael and the team to deliver on our ambitious development goals. With a strong pipeline and strategic focus on high-quality residential projects, Quintain is well-positioned to help address the critical housing need in Ireland and deliver sustainable and well-served communities.”
Michael Hynes, Chief Executive of Quintain, said: “We are thrilled to have Niall join our executive team. His financial expertise, industry experience and strategic insight will be invaluable as we continue to deliver high-quality developments and seek to double our housing output to 1,500 units a year. With TPG’s support and investment, we are determined to increase our delivery rate and explore further land acquisitions. Niall will play a key role in ensuring we are well-placed to achieve our ambitious plans.”
Padraic Clarke and Karl Murray, Client Partner and Technical Director, respectively,
4most
Analytics and risk management consultancy 4most has expanded its insurance team in Europe with the appointment of Padraic Clarke as Client Partner and, more recently, Karl Murray as Technical Director, leading insurance in the Dublin office.
Clarke joins from MetLife where he served as Actuarial Lead for numerous projects, including the MetLife Brexit project. He has over a decade of experience in the life insurance industry, including roles at Canada Life International, Standard Life and Aviva.
Murray joins from a role as an independent adviser, with clients including Irish Life and AXA, having previously spent over 15 years as a Senior Consultant at Milliman. He specialises in advising insurers on effective financial reporting, capital management and regulatory compliance, including IFRS 17, Solvency II and PRIIPs.
In their new roles, they will be focusing on further building the 4most Dublin team to tackle the challenges that are facing insurers in Ireland and the wider EU, from compliance with IFRS 17 reporting requirements, to balance sheet optimisation and automation.
Clarke and Murray’s appointments come as 4most expands specialist teams across Europe with the recent appointment of Richard Whiting as Client Partner in Amsterdam. 4most’s growth has resulted in offices spanning seven locations globally, including London, Leeds, Edinburgh, Dublin, Amsterdam, Dubai and Bengaluru.
In Ireland, 4most works with major banks such as AIB and Bank of Ireland, and with Irish subsidiaries of UK and Canadian insurers. 4most is also set to sponsor the Society of Actuaries (Ireland) Annual Convention in November this year.
Padraic Clarke, Client Partner at 4most, comments:“4most offers something new to the Irish life insurance sector and I’m excited to collaborate with our incredibly talented team to support Irish insurers. With our unique, delivery-focused approach and specialist expertise in areas such as data, actuarial modelling and transformation, 4most is set to strongly appeal to the Irish market.”
“Each year brings fresh challenges to the industry, whether it’s climate risk analysis, IFRS 17 reporting, constrained working day timetables, data quality concerns, technological transformation, or regulatory updates. To stay ahead of the curve, insurers need the best external counsel and 4most are well-positioned to support.”
“I’m thrilled to be a part of its Irish story in leading the team as we continue to grow. As the first step on our journey, I’m delighted to welcome Karl Murray, a highly experienced consultant, to the Irish insurance team. I’m very much looking forward to working with him and delivering a high standard of actuarial solutions to Irish clients.”
Karl Murray, Technical Director at 4most, comments: “I’ve seen a lot of change over my twenty plus years in the insurance sector but the rise of big data modelling and the technological transformation in recent times is both unprecedented and exciting. 4most is at the forefront of this step change and I’m delighted to be joining the team to expand the Dublin office and follow the growth trajectory 4most has seen in other markets.
“This role is a perfect one to capitalise on my experience advising some of the biggest names in the Irish sector. I’m excited to help build out our offering and support on bringing the best service and advice to 4most’s valued clients.”
Ramesh Indran, Managing Partner, Insurance, at 4most, adds: “Padraic and Karl’s expertise in this sector is well-recognised and we know they will both be valuable assets to 4most in leading our Irish insurance team. I’m looking forward to working closely with them as we expand our offering in Ireland and bring the full 4most expertise to Irish businesses grappling with new changes to the sector each successive year.”
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