By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Emer Finnan, Independent Director, Bank of Ireland
This week sees new and notable appointments at Bank of Ireland, Cristeyns Ireland, Waystone, The Fota Collection, Partsol, and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).
By Rye Baker
Emer Finnan, Independent Director
Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland announces the appointment of Ms Emer Finnan as an Independent Non-Executive Director to the Board of Bank of Ireland Group plc and the Court of Directors of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland with immediate effect. Ms Finnan also joins the Audit and Risk Committees. Ms Finnan is a chartered accountant and financial services professional with experience in finance, corporate finance, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions.
As a Partner and President Europe with Kildare Partners, Ms Finnan has gained extensive experience in private equity throughout Europe. Ms Finnan has substantial financial services experience, having worked in Investec Ireland, EBS Limited, NCB Corporate Finance, ABN AMRO UK and Salomon Brothers UK. Ms Finnan qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in Dublin and gained accountancy and audit experience in her early career post-qualification.
Ms Finnan serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of Glenveagh Properties plc and the Ireland Fund of Great Britain. She also serves on the board of Kildare Acquisitions Ireland Limited. She has also previously served as a director on the boards of Britvic plc and C&C Group plc and chaired the Audit Committees in both organisations.
Akshaya Bhargava, Bank of Ireland Chairman, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Emer to Bank of Ireland. Emer has a depth of experience in financial services, gained over a very successful professional career in retail banking, corporate finance and private equity. She will make a strong contribution to the deliberations of the Board, and I look forward to working with her.”
Melissa Moorhead, Operations Director
Christeyns Ireland
Melissa Moorhead joins hygiene specialist Christeyns UK as Operations Director, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Moorhead brings a decade of experience in various commercial, pricing and sales leadership roles across global operations. Her deep understanding of contemporary technologies, data networks, and information systems will be a huge asset as Christeyns continues to grow its
business in Ireland.
Based at Christeyns Irish head office in Ballandyne, County Mayo, Moorhead will be responsible for directing the company’s day to day activities, overseeing the growing team and ensuring business objectives are met.
Christeyns has experienced rapid growth in the Irish market with over 50% business growth in the past two and half years. Following the purchase of Gannon Chemicals in Claremorris in 2023, the firm has undergone a period of consolidation doubling the size of its workforce as it moves forward with its strategic plans to become the market leader in its field in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“I am absolutely delighted to join this innovative and forward-thinking company, with a rich history and family values,” comments Moorhead. “It is an exciting time for the hygiene industry with sustainability and technology playing a huge role in our path forward. I look forward to the challenges this will bring.”
Jamie Moran, Chief Marketing Officer
Waystone
Waystone, a leading provider of specialist services to the global asset management industry, announces the appointment of Jamie Moran as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).
This new strategic appointment comes at a pivotal time for Waystone as the organisation continues its growth and strengthening of the global leadership team to support its strategic goals. A seasoned CMO, Mr Moran will be responsible for leading Waystone’s global marketing strategy and initiatives to enhance brand presence, foster market engagement and support business expansion.
Mr Moran brings a proven track record with more than 25 years of experience in driving go-to-market strategies in asset and investment management, real estate, professional services, telecommunications and technology sectors. Prior to joining Waystone, Mr Moran served as Global CMO at Vistra where he led a high-performing international team and spearheaded strategic marketing integration following a series of acquisitions.
Sanjiv Sawhney, Group Chief Executive Officer at Waystone, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jamie to our team at this phase of our growth journey. His appointment is testament to the strength of our business, the momentum Waystone has built around the world, and the high calibre of talent we attract. Jamie’s extensive experience and strategic vision will be invaluable as we connect with the industry in new ways and strengthen Waystone’s position as a leading global partner to clients.”
Jamie Moran, Chief Marketing Officer at Waystone, added: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Waystone at such a key time and playing a role in its continued success. I’ve watched Waystone grow into the formidable global company it is today – client-focused with a robust and innovative global product and technology suite, and on a strong trajectory. I look forward to helping to tell Waystone’s compelling story and engaging with the market, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our clients and support them in building, operating and protecting investment strategies worldwide.”
Fergal Harte, Group Hotel General Manager, John O’Flynn, General Manager Group Strategy,
The Fota Collection
The Fota Collection has announced the creation of two new senior leadership roles and the appointments of two of the country’s most respected hoteliers to these positions.
Fergal Harte, General Manager of The Kingsley for the past decade, has been appointed Group Hotel General Manager of the Fota Collection. Harte will oversee the almost 800 full-time & part-time employees and the overall operations of both properties and their associated facilities. His remit includes financial performance, team leadership, guest satisfaction, and ensuring operational excellence across the entire collection.
Harte, who was named Irish Hospitality Institute General Manager of the Year in 2024, has led The Kingsley since its opening in 2014. His leadership has been instrumental in establishing the hotel as one of Cork’s premier destinations for both leisure and business.
“It’s a privilege to take on this new role and to further integrate the two exceptional teams at The Kingsley and Fota Island Resort,” said Fergal Harte, Group Hotel General Manager of the Fota Collection. “Both properties have built strong reputations in their own right, and are very different but share the same values and ethos of true Irish hospitality. I look forward to leading the next phase of their journey under a unified vision that puts guest experience, team development, and innovation at the heart of everything we do.”
Alongside this appointment, John O’Flynn, General Manager at Fota Island Resort for the past 18 years, has been named General Manager Group Strategy at the Fota Collection. This newly established strategic leadership role signals the group’s intention to explore future growth and expansion opportunities both within Ireland and internationally.
With deep expertise in hotel operations and destination resort management, O’Flynn will lead the Fota Collection’s long-term development strategy, identifying new business opportunities and guiding acquisition and expansion initiatives in alignment with the group’s vision.
“Having worked at Fota Island Resort for nearly two decades, I’m excited to step into this new role with a clear focus on growth and innovation,” said John O’Flynn, General Manager Group Strategy, the Fota Collection. “There is great potential within the Irish hospitality sector, and we’re committed to ensuring the Fota Collection is part of that evolving story — investing in people, properties and experiences that reflect the very best of our hospitality.”
Niamh Byrne, Chief Customer Officer, Barry Collins, Chief Revenue Officer,
Partsol
Partsol has announced the appointments of Niamh Byrne to Chief Customer Officer and Barry Collins to Chief Revenue Officer.
Niamh Byrne is an high-impact executive of proven leadership experience, with strategic vision and large management scope. A Digital transformation and Marketing leader, she has held senior leadership roles across multiple markets and diverse geographical regions in the Mobile Telecoms, Technology, Banking, and Fintech sectors.
Based in Singapore, Byrne worked at an AI Computer Vison start up, responsible for driving commercial partnerships. She then moved to Citi, where she held the position of Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Digital Banking for Citi across 17 markets in Asia & EMEA. Prior to Citi, Byrne was part of the team that delivered six successful commercial market launches over a five-year period for Digicel. Niamh Byrne is a Chartered Company Director, accredited by the Institute of Directors.
Byrne ran global media at Orange, a European mobile operator, managing corporate reputation and financial reporting. She subsequently led Commercial Brand partnerships and CSR for the UK business and delivered large-scale, high-profile brand partnerships and mass-market campaigns, which delivered double digit revenue growth.
She also holds an Honours degree in Business Studies, Economics, and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin, a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors, a Digital Marketing Postgraduate diploma, and an advanced diploma in French. Byrne also sits on the Board of Directors of Hockey Ireland and is Vice-Chair, and Chair of the HR & Remuneration committee. Lastly, Niamh Byrne sits on the Advisory Board of the European CMO Council, and is a former Vice-President and Board member of the Irish Chamber of Commerce, Singapore.
Barry Collins is a results-driven leader with expertise in scaling international business and driving revenue growth. Collins has held senior global roles at Twitter, Skype and Dell, leading sales teams across EMEA, APAC and the Americas, spearheading business development and market expansion, and developing partnership agreements.
More recently, Barry Collins has worked with a number of B2B SaaS companies on business strategy and go-to-market expansion, and served as the Chief Revenue Officer for CreditLogic for over 2 years. Based in Dublin, he brings deep expertise in international growth and partnerships.
Jim Breslin, Chair of the Council
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS)
Mr Jim Breslin has been appointed as Chair of the Council of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS). Mr Breslin previously led Ireland’s newly established Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science as Secretary General from 2020-2023. Prior to that role he served as Secretary General of the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. His appointment will run from July 2025 to June 2030.
DIAS is the world’s second, and Ireland’s only, Institute for advanced studies. They conduct and publish advanced research across three disciplines: Celtic Studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic Physics (including Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics).
Mr Breslin holds a range of directorships and advisory roles across the private, not for profit and public sectors. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Certificate in Business and Climate Change from the University of Cambridge. He was a Policy Leader Fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge.
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