By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Suzanne Ryan, Managing Director, Bluebird Care
This week sees new and notable appointments at Bluebird Care, Aircraft Leasing Ireland, SD Worx Ireland, and Pepper Advantage Ireland
Suzanne Ryan, Managing Director,
Bluebird Care
Bluebird Care has announced the appointment of Suzanne Ryan as Managing Director. Previously MD of Home Instead Galway, Suzanne will support Bluebird Care’s Franchise Partners in delivering quality home care services for both the HSE and private clients. Her appointment aligns with the company’s growing focus new models of support for clients including their Live-in Care Service, that empowers people to live their lives on their own terms, with dignity, comfort, and peace of mind.
Bluebird Care, a national provider of home care, has announced the appointment of Suzanne Ryan as Managing Director. With over 25 years of experience spanning B2B, B2C, and D2C sectors, Suzanne brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.
“I am immensely proud to be joining Bluebird Care Ireland. At the heart of what we do is a simple promise, to empower individuals of all ages and abilities to lead their richest lives, in the sanctuary of their own homes. It’s about more than care—it’s about enabling joy, comfort, and independence, whatever their circumstances may be.
Our mission is to redefine the meaning of care, setting a new benchmark of excellence in Ireland. As providers of nurse-led care in the comfort of individuals’ own homes, we genuinely care about our mission and the profound impact we have on the lives of the elderly, children, and people with disabilities”
Suzanne’s impressive career includes key positions at Kerry Group Plc, Guinness Group, The Jones Group Plc, and Supermac’s. Her previous role as Managing Director at Home Instead Galway underscores her prominence in the health services sector. Additionally, Suzanne chairs Symphysis Medical, a spin-off of University of Galway’s BioInnovate program.
Holding post-graduate qualifications in Health Science & Business from the University of Galway, as well as Diplomas in Change Management and Corporate Governance, Suzanne has an enviable academic background. Her passion for supporting future graduates is demonstrated by her active contributions to University of Galway on the External Advisory board of J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics.
A mother of five and an avid sea swimmer, Suzanne embodies resilience and determination; qualities recognised by Network Ireland Galway, the association for Women In Business, when they honoured her as Businesswoman of the Year in 2020 and, more recently, Networker of the Year for the Galway Branch.
In her role as Managing Director, Suzanne will support Bluebird Care’s Franchise Partners in delivering quality home care services for both the HSE and private clients. Her appointment aligns with the company’s growing focus new models of support for clients including their Live-in Care Service, that empowers people to live their lives on their own terms, with dignity, comfort, and peace of mind.
Jonathan Gardner, Chief Executive Officer Bluebird Care UK & Ireland, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Suzanne to the Bluebird Care team, I am extremely confident that her leadership and years of experience in the Irish Home Care sector will elevate the quality of care already provided to clients across Ireland. We look forward to her contributions and the positive impact she will make in this critical role.”
Suzanne’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Bluebird Care. With her at the helm, the company is well-positioned to not only expand its reach but also to redefine the standard of home care in Ireland, setting a new benchmark for excellence and innovation.
Karl Griffin, Chair Person,
Aircraft Leasing Ireland
Karl Griffin, Chair Person, Aircraft Leasing Ireland
Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI) has announced the appointment of Karl Griffin, Chief Executive Officer at GENESIS, to the role of Chairperson. Karl takes over the role from Marie-Louise Kelly, Chief Financial Officer at ORIX Aviation after her successful two-year term as Chairperson. Jennifer Creevey, Chief Financial Officer with Nordic Aviation Capital has been appointed Vice-Chair of ALI and will assume the role of Chair in 2026. Formed in July 2018, ALI is the group representing the aircraft leasing industry in Ireland. It is a constituent part of Financial Services Ireland (Ibec), the only trade association that represents the totality of the financial services sector in Ireland.
Speaking upon his appointment, Karl said:
“It is an honour to be appointed Chairperson of Aircraft Leasing Ireland, representing our members in a global industry that is based here in Ireland. I would like to thank Marie-Louise for her excellent stewardship during the past two years, particularly her leadership in the creation of the ALI Sustainability Charter which contained the first set of ESG and climate-aligned principles for the aviation industry, and the work she has done to enhance ALI for all members into what it is today. I would also like to welcome Jennifer Creevy to the role of Vice-Chair and look forward to working together with her, the newly formed ALI Steering Committee and all member companies over this two-year term. The Irish aircraft leasing industry continues to
Appointed Genesis Group Chief Executive Officer in 2019, Karl has over 34 years of aviation experience spanning aircraft leasing, airline management and maintenance and repair organisations. Prior to joining Genesis, Karl was Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at AWAS, where he spent 11 years building the business into a top five aircraft leasing company ahead of its successful sale in 2017. Karl started his aviation career in 1990 as an apprentice in the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul sector with GPA Joint Venture company, Shannon Aerospace. In 1998, Karl became a founding member of the low-cost airline, Virgin Express with a fleet of 25 aircraft at the time, serving major European cities. In 2002 he joined the newly formed RBS Aviation Capital, where he held various technical, pricing and marketing roles, including, the formation of its engine leasing and finance business. Karl received a first-class honours MBA from the University of Limerick, a Dip. Mechanical Engineering from Galway Institute of Technology and an ICAO & EASA aircraft maintenance engineer’s
Elizabeth Bowen, ALI Director said:
“Ireland is the leading centre for aircraft leasing globally and is a high growth sector of international financial services, representing $100billion of assets and that supports 8,543 local jobs. ALI works collaboratively with the Irish Government and state agencies to ensure Ireland retains this leading position. We look forward to working with Karl and Jennifer in these efforts. We are extremely grateful to Marie-Louise Kelly for her commitment and leadership over the past two years”.
Máirín O’Sullivan, Marketing Manager,
SD Worx Ireland
Máirín O’Sullivan, Marketing Manager, SD Worx Ireland
SD Worx Ireland, a HR solutions provider, has announced the appointment of Máirín O’Sullivan as Marketing Manager. Máirín brings over 15 years of marketing experience in the professional services, technology, and finance sectors to her new role.
As Marketing Manager, Máirín will be responsible for driving awareness of SD Worx’s innovative payroll and workforce management solutions among SMEs and enterprises in Ireland. Máirín will also focus on boosting brand recognition for SD Worx in Ireland. The Bray-based company, previously Intelligo, was acquired by Belgian company SD Worx in 2022, taking its name shortly afterwards.
Amid a backdrop of increasingly complex employee legislation, businesses in Ireland can leverage SD Worx’s technology to ensure they not only meet their legal obligations, but simultaneously enhance the employee experience. Using her dynamic marketing experience, Máirín will lead the brand activation of SD Worx in Ireland, sharing the company’s vision to spark success at the heart of businesses through their people. She will drive campaigns to spotlight SD Worx’s existing, enhanced, and new services – ultimately driving growth for the company.
Before joining SD Worx Ireland, Máirín was Marketing and Partnerships Manager at Adare Trusted People Partners, a leading Irish human resource management company. Here, she led the rebrand of the company to meet the evolving needs of businesses in Ireland and better reflect the long-term business goals of the organisation. Prior to that, Máirín held the position of Head of Marketing for Irish cyber telecom security provider, AdaptiveMobile Security, and sat on the company’s senior executive leadership team.
Máirín holds a BA in English and Economics from Maynooth University and a Master’s in Management from the UCD Michael Smurfit Business School.
Máirín O’Sullivan, Marketing Manager, SD Worx Ireland:
“It is an exciting time to join SD Worx as the world of work is constantly changing and our technology empowers businesses to be agile in response. However, one element that remains constant is people, who are always at the heart of business success. For me, being a part of a company like SD Worx, which recognises the value of people-centric solutions, aligns with my passion for enhanced human experiences at work that drive value for our customers.
“Following the acquisition of Intelligo, SD Worx is on an ambitious growth path in Ireland. We now have an exciting, expanded service offering that provides even greater support to employers across Ireland. I will strengthen our brand in the Irish market post-acquisition, boosting awareness of our breadth of knowledge, our innovation, high-quality market research, and international experience.”
Antoinette Dunne, Non-Executive Director,
Pepper Advantage Ireland
Antoinette Dunne, Non-Executive Director, Pepper Advantage Ireland
Pepper Advantage Ireland, the Irish entity of Pepper Advantage Group, announced that Antoinette Dunne has been appointed Independent Non-Executive Director, effective immediately.
Dunne brings over 30 years of expertise in credit management, financial services, and banking in Ireland and Europe to Pepper Advantage. She worked with Capita/Link Group for over 10 years, most recently as CEO of BCMGlobal, where she led one of the largest credit servicing companies in Europe. As CEO, Dunne was responsible for the business’s financial, strategic, and operational performance across Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and the UK and led a team of over 800.
Additional roles include senior positions at Halifax/Bank of Scotland, where Dunne worked for over 15 years across retail, business banking and operations and led the programme to launch the Halifax retail bank in Ireland. She subsequently led the retail and intermediary business for the Group under both the Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands.
Currently, Dunne serves as a member of the Governing Authority for University College Dublin, where she is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. She is also the Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Capitalflow, a leading lender to small- and medium-sized enterprises. Her appointment to the Pepper Advantage Ireland board follows that of Michael Gibbons and Dr Hillary Ray in March.
Fraser Gemmell, Global CEO, Pepper Advantage, and interim Chair, Pepper Advantage Ireland, said:
“Antoinette is an exceptional addition to the board of Pepper Advantage Ireland. She brings not only vast experience in credit management in Ireland and Europe, but also a rigorous focus on governance, risk management, and operational improvements. Her record of building strong businesses and driving growth by delivering for customers speaks for itself, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Pepper Advantage team.”
Antoinette Dunne, non-executive director for Pepper Advantage Ireland, said:
“I am very excited to be joining Pepper Advantage at this time. The business is well-positioned for growth, with an agile and forward-looking team and a real ambition to serve clients and improve customer outcomes. I am delighted to be joining and working with Fraser and everyone at Pepper to continue bringing the highest standards of care to borrowers in Ireland.”
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