By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Madeleine Delaney, Chief Executive, Charities Regulator
This week sees new and notable appointments at Charities Regulator, AZETS, Clear Strategy, Pinergy, and Aon Ireland Limited.
Madeleine Delaney, Chief Executive,
Charities Regulator
Minister of State Joe O’Brien TD, with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, has approved the appointment of Madeleine Delaney as Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator. The appointment was made by the Board following a public recruitment process.
Madeleine has been Interim Chief Executive since April 2024 and was previously Director of Legal Affairs and Registration with the Charities Regulator. Prior to joining the Charities Regulator in 2021, Madeleine was the Head of Legal at the Office of the Ombudsman and previously Deputy Head of Compliance with the Pensions Authority. A solicitor, Madeleine is a graduate of the University of Limerick, and University College Cork.
Gerry Kearney, Chair of the Charities Regulator said: “The Board welcomes Madeleine’s appointment as CEO. This is an important time for the Charities Regulator as we mark almost a decade since establishment and prepare a strategic plan for the coming period. A critical challenge will be deepening our dialogue and relationships across the charity sector. As CEO Madeleine will be pivotal to achieving the organisation’s goals and further strengthening the sector, which contributes so significantly to our society.”
Commenting on her appointment, Madeleine Delaney said: “I am really looking forward to leading the great team in the Charities Regulator and to engaging with our many stakeholders as we build on our work to increase public trust and confidence in the charities sector through effective and proportionate regulation.”
David Lucas, Head of Corporate Finance,
AZETS
Professional services firm, Azets Ireland, has recently announced the appointment of David Lucas as Head of Corporate Finance as it seeks to double the size of the division to service the needs of entrepreneurial, owner-managed, and family-owned businesses across Ireland.
The Irish mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market has outperformed the global market in recent years with private equity deals up 30% in Q1 2024. Despite transformation primarily taking place in the small to mid-market value range, there are only a small number of firms providing critical corporate finance services to this important segment of the Irish company.
With a current team of 16 dedicated professionals, Azets Ireland’s corporate finance division is projected to over double in size within three years with the addition of approximately 20 new recruits. The expansion of the Azets Ireland corporate finance division will enable the company to advise on a growing number of transactions expected in the Irish mid-market sector in particular.
Azets Ireland provides a full range of Buy Side and Sell Side M&A, Due Diligence, Valuations, and Debt Advisory Services. Its ever-growing team of professionals will be focused on delivering tailored solutions that meet the changing needs of Irish businesses. The Azets Ireland corporate finance team was named the number one financial advisor in the Irish market by deal volume in H1 2024 by Experian.
With over 20 years’ experience in the finance sector, working both in banks, and in leading professional services firms, and over 12 years in corporate finance, David Lucas has a wealth of experience in dealmaking. He has successfully advised clients ranging from global private equity houses and large corporates to privately owned businesses and management teams. He has built a reputation for delivering successful outcomes across a wide range of sectors, including multiple award-winning deals.
This announcement will further support the ambitious growth of the firm that is underway as it both expands the depth and breadth of its services and also expands its presence in Dublin and key regional locations throughout Ireland. Azets Ireland currently employs a team of 260 people in Ireland and operates out of Dublin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, and Waterford City in the Southeast.
David Lucas, Head of Corporate Finance, Azets Ireland, said: “I am excited to take on this role as Head of Corporate Finance in the early stages of Azets expansion in Ireland.
“Our team’s focus on delivering tailored M&A, due diligence, valuations, and debt advisory services is more crucial than ever. The expected reduction in interest rates is likely to boost deal activity in the short to medium-term while there is growing interest in Irish businesses from international as well as domestic trade and private equity buyers.
“At Azets Ireland, we recognize that experience and expertise are invaluable in helping Ireland’s entrepreneurs to navigate this evolving market. Through our strong track record of advising on major transactions, our growing team of advisors can guide companies of all sizes through key life events and fund their growth ambition.
“I look forward to leading the full-service Corporate Finance team in growing our business and continuing to provide excellent service and outcomes for our clients”.
Commenting on the announcement, Neil Hughes, CEO, Azets Ireland said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of David to his new role of Head of Corporate Finance.
“His extensive experience and proven track record make him the ideal leader to drive our ambitious plans to expand the corporate finance division. As the number one financial advisor in the Irish market by deal volume in H1 2024, we are committed to delivering exceptional service to entrepreneurial, owner-managed, and family-owned businesses.
“As Azets continues its growth journey both in Ireland and internationally, we see this role as critical in leading the delivery of the specialist corporate finance services that our entrepreneurial client base needs.
“With David at the helm, and with partners Greg Hogan and Jack Swinburne, we are poised to double the size of our corporate finance team over the next three years, enhancing our ability to provide critical support and guidance to the mid-market sector across Ireland.”
To find out more about the launch of the Azets Ireland Corporate Finance Department, visit: www.azets.ie.
Alan Dalton, Commercial Director,
Clear Strategy
Clear Strategy, a Data and Analytics Consulting company headquartered in Dublin, has announced the appointment of Alan Dalton to its team as Commercial Director. Alan will be responsible for developing and implementing Clear Strategy’s sales strategies across multiple jurisdictions and managing client relationships.
Alan brings with him a wealth of senior commercial experience both in Ireland and the US markets, over the past 20 years. Prior to joining, Clear Strategy, Alan held senior commercial banking roles and business development roles in the financial and legal services sectors.
Commenting on his appointment, Alan said “I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Commercial Director with Clear Strategy. Our team is dedicated to making businesses better. We achieve this by harnessing the power of data, helping organisations transform business challenges into real business opportunities. We believe in continuous innovation with advanced technologies to deliver unparalleled data solutions that lead the industry. The opportunity for growth across all sectors in multiple jurisdictions is a hugely exciting prospect”.
Daire Keating, Chief Commercial Officer,
Pinergy
Pinergy, the energy transition company, has announced the appointment of Daire Keating as Chief Commercial Officer. This new senior appointment will see Daire responsible for leading the commercial development of Pinergy, which is now entering a new growth phase in its evolution.
Established in 2013, the Pinergy business has grown organically and by acquiring energy related businesses. Today, it supplies green electricity and smart energy solutions, including solar installations, energy measurement and EV charging infrastructure. The company continues to enjoy significant growth, building on 2022 reported revenues of €156m, up 95 per cent on the previous year.
In the new chief commercial officer role, Daire aims to harness the opportunities for the business and grow Pinergy’s customer base, while guiding & advising customers through the energy transition and helping them to better manage their energy futures. His core areas of expertise are developing and nurturing high performance teams, developing businesses through acquisition and organic initiatives and implementing strong commercial structures to deliver financial success.
Speaking about this latest appointment, Enda Gunnell, CEO at Pinergy said, “Daire is bringing impressive credentials and a track record of delivering on strategic objectives and business plans. His expertise and experience will be instrumental in ensuring Pinergy continues on our growth path, realising the value of our recent acquisitions under one Pinergy brand and ensuring our customers benefit from our variety of services powering energy transition.”
Commenting on his new role at Pinergy, Daire Keating said, “The energy sector is on the cusp of major transformation. My goal is to deliver a new commercial strategy for Pinergy that supports significant growth by bringing together all our business units including, Pinergy Solar Electric and Acutrace operating under one Pinergy brand.”
He added: “As the energy transition really starts to gather momentum in Ireland, Pinergy is well positioned to meet the growing demand from commercial and residential customers for its differentiated approach. We’re helping our customers make data informed choices today, to take control of their energy needs for tomorrow.”
Prior to joining Pinergy, Daire worked with the team in DCC plc for over 13 years where he held several senior finance positions and more recently as the Managing Director of Mobility at DCC Energy. Previously, he worked for CRH plc for three years. Daire is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of England & Wales.
Pinergy is now supporting business and residential customers through the energy transition, from data-led measurement & supply of green electricity, leading solar energy and storage solutions through to commercial electric vehicle charging solutions.
Marie Corry, Independent Director to the Board,
Aon Ireland Limited
Aon plc a global professional services firm, has announced that Marie Corry has been appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director to the Aon Ireland Limited (AIL) Board.
Corry’s appointment to the AIL board as an independent director will bring an objective and impartial viewpoint to the deliberations of the board and help enhance the governance of AIL. Her extensive experience in the insurance industry will bring a wide breadth of subject matter expertise and knowledge that will support the firm to continue evolving to meet client needs.
Corry was previously Director of Finance at Allianz plc for over 15 years where she led finance, actuarial, risk, and compliance functions across the business. She was a Director on the board of Allianz plc until 2020. Corry has over forty years’ experience in finance leadership and governance in Ireland where she has demonstrated considerable success in managing change and driving growth.
Commenting on the appointment, Peter Brady, Head of Risk Capital, Aon Ireland and CEO, AIL, said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Marie to the Aon Ireland Limited Board. Her extensive experience in corporate governance and strategic finance will be invaluable in ensuring that the firm continues to meet its strategic goals and empowers clients to make better decisions in protecting and growing their business. It is important that our board represents a diverse range of views to enable balanced and effective governance of the business and Marie’s appointment will bring another authoritative and independent voice to the table to support this objective.”
Marie Corry, Independent Non-Executive Director at Aon Ireland said: “I’m excited to take on the role of Independent non-executive director on the Aon Ireland board. As firms across the country navigate a period of heightened volatility, it is critical that Aon has the right blend of skillsets and capabilities in place at the governance level to ensure that the business can successfully manage change and meet evolving client needs. I’m looking forward to working closely with the other board members over the coming months and providing a fresh perspective on the firm’s strategy to ensure that we continue delivering commercial growth.”
