By Business & Finance 
Pictured (from l-r): Chris Mee, founder of EHS International and Louise Dennison O’Shaughnessy.
This week sees new and notable appointments at EHS International, Dowds Group, Ergo and FUEL.
Louise Dennison O’Shaughnessy, Director of Mental Health & Wellness,
EHS International
EHS International, a leading single-source Irish environmental, health and safety company, has announced the acquisition of The Dennison Training Academy, a renowned provider of advanced mental health training. The acquisition meets a growing demand from EHS International clients for the service, with The Dennison Training Academy, founded by Louise Dennison O’Shaughnessy, having built a strong reputation for delivering bespoke mental health training solutions.
The Dennison Training Academy has a diverse client base, including IrishJobs.ie, VOYA Organic Beauty, Magna International, MSLETB, Mainline, DDLETB, and Bulgari.
On the acquisition, Chris Mee, Founder and CEO of EHS International said: “We are thrilled to incorporate The Dennison Training Academy’s specialised mental health programmes into our portfolio following a strong demand from our clients for these services. This acquisition is aligned with our mission to provide comprehensive EHS solutions that address the full spectrum of workplace health and safety needs from our offices in Dublin, Cork, Belfast and London. Our clients can now benefit from enhanced resources that support not only physical but also mental and emotional health.”
Louise Dennison O’Shaughnessy is now Director of Mental Health & Wellness at EHS International, which currently has a team of over 100 spanning Ireland and the UK.
Speaking on the announcement, Ms Dennison O’Shaughnessy stated: “Joining forces with EHS International is an exciting step forward for The Dennison Training Academy. Chris Mee is a respected professional and a true expert in the EHS field, and I am looking forward to working closely with him and his team. Together, we will be able to bring essential mental health resources to a broader audience and make a significant impact on workplace wellbeing across various industries.”
Ciaran Tiffney, Construction Divisional Director,
Dowds Group
Ballymena-headquartered multi-disciplinary construction company Dowds Group has appointed Ciaran Tiffney as Construction Divisional Director.
With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Ciaran completed a degree and post-graduation in Construction Engineering & Management and Construction Project Management at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, which took him to a position with McLaughlin & Harvey in 2008 as Assistant Site Manager – and later Site Manager – in London.
During his eight years at McAleer & Rushe, Ciaran went from Project Manager to Project Director, and came back to Ireland in 2022 as Senior Project Manager at Quintain.
Now based at Dowds’ new headquarters in Ballymena, Ciaran will focus on the division’s multi-million-pound confirmed order book and pipeline for the next 18 months.
“The construction sector is challenging but it is also an extremely rewarding area to work in, and it is very exciting to join such a key player in the industry,” Ciaran commented. “We have recently announced record sales and a return to profit for the last financial year, and I’m looking forward to leading more opportunities for high-profile projects in Ireland and the UK.”
To find out more about Dowds Group, visit our website at www.dowdsgroup.com
Alistair Stoops, Data, Analytics and AI Lead
Ergo
Ergo, an indigenous IT solutions provider, has announced the appointment of Alistair Stoops as Data, Analytics and AI Lead.
Alistair will lead Ergo’s Data, Analytics and AI practice, where he and his team will work with Ergo’s clients across both the public and private sectors to support them in realising value from their data, deploying artificial intelligence in a way that helps them achieve their business objectives, and enabling reliable and effective data-driven decisions.
Alistair will be based in Ergo’s recently expanded Northern Ireland office, working closely with John Molloy, General Manager of Ergo Northern Ireland, to continue strengthening Ergo’s offering in the region. Alistair will support Ergo customers in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the UK, with a particular sectoral focus on life sciences, financial services and the public sector.
Alistair brings nine years of experience in data and analytics roles to Ergo. In his early career, he worked as a data scientist and fraud analyst with UCAS and Citibank, before moving into the digital services space. Before joining Ergo, Alistair worked with Deloitte as a manager on the Analytics and Data Solutions team and with Kainos as the Data and AI Capability Lead. Alistair graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Physics.
A passionate advocate for the use of technology for continuous improvement and learning, Alistair has been involved in several key educational initiatives, working as a judge at the ESB Science Blast, collaborating with STEM Learning, running data and AI sessions for 16-18-year-old students through Speakers For Schools and returning to his alma mater Queens University Belfast where he ran AI workshops, and discussed future career opportunities for students in data and AI.
Speaking on the appointment, Ergo CEO, Paul McCann said: “We are very pleased to welcome Alistair to the team as our new Data, Analytics and AI Lead. We know that one of the biggest challenges with new technologies and innovation is adoption, and Alistair brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in data and analytics that will ensure that Ergo customers can realise the potential of emerging technologies. Alistair is a vital strategic addition to our team in Northern Ireland and we look forward to seeing what he and his team achieve.”
Keith McCormack, Executive Director,
FUEL
Keith McCormack is announced as executive director of FUEL. Previous positions include the national head of events at Fáilte Ireland, and CEO of Today FM, 98FM and Communicorp Media Music and Entertainment.
Founded by Brian McDermott and Jamie Deasy in 2013, FUEL’s impressive client list includes global heavyweights like Meta, Sky, World Rugby, KPMG, Indeed, PayPal, Paddy Power, Accenture, Lidl, Universal Music Group and Google, as well as national giants such as AIB and Leinster Rugby. FUEL are also the event organisers behind some of the country’s largest festivals including health and wellness festival Wellfest and family-friendly music festival Kaleidoscope which they manage in partnership with Festival Republic, Live Nation and MCD.
With teams across the US, UK and its headquarters located on Dublin’s Camden Street, FUEL has expanded over the past 11 years from a team of 4 into over 70 innovative experience and event designers, creators, producers, strategists and engineers.
