New and notable appointments at ESRI Ireland, Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, Magnet Networks and Carne Group

Pictured: Katie McFarland, Solution Architect, ESRI Ireland

This week sees new and notable appointments at ESRI Ireland, Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, Magnet Networks and Carne Group

Katie McFarland, Solution Architect,
ESRI Ireland

ESRI Ireland, the company specialising in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has announced the appointment of Katie McFarland as solution architect. In this new role, Katie will work with customers to plan out the roadmap to implementing GIS within their organisation and ensure that digital mapping technology is helping them to achieve their business goals.

Following her appointment, Katie will be responsible for the technical design and delivery of value-adding GIS projects for Esri Ireland’s customers. Also ensuring that customer solutions are kept up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, she will work to provide unique digital mapping solutions that address specific business challenges and needs.

Katie is a member of Esri Ireland’s Great Place to Work (GPTW) Culture Audit team, helping the company to complete its yearly GPTW Audit and contributing to workplace and employee initiatives that help to maintain Esri Ireland’s high ranking each year.

Prior to this appointment, Katie held the position of lead consultant with Esri Ireland for two years, helping in the technical design of projects across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Previously, she was employed by Esri Ireland as senior consultant and GIS consultant, having formally joined the company in 2016 following three years working as a self-employed GIS contractor across numerous government departments.

Katie holds both an MSc. In Geographic Information Systems and a BSc. in Geography with Computing from the University of Ulster. She has also received a PRINCE2 Project Management certification as well as a Professional SCRUM Master certification.

Laura Farrell, Chief Executive Officer,
Retirement Planning Council of Ireland

Pictured: Laura Farrell, CEO of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland

The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland clg (RPCI), the leading body that helps people manage the transition from work into retirement, has announcement the appointment of Laura Farrell as Chief Executive Officer.

In her role as Chief Executive Officer, Laura will work closely with the Board of Directors to deliver the RPCI’s strategic plan. She will lead the team of support staff, course leaders and specialists to manage the delivery of retirement courses nationwide. She will also focus on expanding the organisation’s corporate and individual membership base to continue to increase the RPCI’s footprint in Ireland.

Laura joins the RPCI from Insurance Ireland, where she held the position of Chief Membership Engagement Officer and was responsible for membership development and engagement. Prior to this, Laura held a number of senior positions in executive education, multimedia and corporate banking.

Ray Kenny, Chairman of the RPCI Board of Directors said: “I am delighted to welcome Laura Farrell to her new role as Chief Executive Officer. Laura joins the RPCI at an exciting time, as we prepare to relaunch our offering and move our courses online to continue to provide support during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. Laura’s skillset and previous experience will be of great benefit to the organisation and she will be a great asset to the team.”

Laura has experience working in not-for-profit and charity organisations and has been a member of the Board of Directors for IFSC Dublin Inner City Trust since 2017.

John Delves, Managing Director,
Magnet Networks

His appointment follows the recent acquisition of the company by Speed Fibre Group, an Irish investment vehicle focused on telecoms infrastructure as well as communications service provision.

Magnet Networks provides connectivity for some of the world’s biggest technology companies as well as innovative telecommunications and data connectivity solutions to both commercial and residential markets.

Prior to his appointment, Mr Delves spent over a decade at CEO level with Digicel in the Pacific and Caribbean, and implemented two successful greenfield launches in Vanuatu and Fiji.

“John is the ideal person to further develop Magnet Networks’ range of customer focussed solutions and drive best-in-class customer satisfaction for its large client base,” said Speed Fibre Group CEO, Peter McCarthy.

“He has a track record of top-level telecoms success and as CEO of Digicel Trinidad and Tobago he developed the company from being a mobile-only operator into a total communications provider across mobile, fixed, TV, digital media and Broadband.”

“We are entering an exciting new era as we aim to build on Magnet Networks’ successful launch of Ireland’s largest single connectivity marketplace,” said Mr Delves.

“As the only provider to grant one-stop access to all connectivity options offered by every major network operator in Ireland, we are in a position to change the way that business broadband is sold in this country.

“I believe that Magnet Networks has been the most innovative operator in the business market over the past few years in instantly and expertly meeting the real connectivity needs of Irish companies.

“With the sudden onset of Covid-19, we enabled businesses nationwide to switch locations seamlessly, allowing their employees to access their desk phones from remote locations via the Magnet Talk service.

“We also introduced Broadband Anywhere – a new mobile technology product which enables businesses and people working remotely and struggling with basic or no connection to significantly upgrade their connectivity.

“This, allied to the introduction of business-class broadband in a range of speeds up to a gigabyte to companies and people working from home, made this year a lot easier for our wide range of customers across all sectors.

“At the heart of all of this is our award-winning technical support, which is best in class and ensures our customers get to talk to a human technician almost instantly.”

Martin Dobbins, Non-Executive Director,
Carne Group, Board of Directors, Luxembourg Fund Management Company 

Pictured: Martin Dobbins, Non-Executive Director, Luxembourg Management Company, Carne Group.

Carne Group, the digitally driven industry platform to the Global Asset Management Industry, has announced the appointment of Martin Dobbins as a Non-Executive Director of its Luxembourg Fund Management Company. Martin Dobbins joins Carne’s Luxembourg Fund Management Company Board of Directors with over 30 years of financial and technology experience in the US, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. Currently Mr. Dobbins is the CEO and Founder of Sage Advisory, s.a.r.l, an advisory firm providing US, Asian and European Asset Managers, Financial Services firms and FinTech companies with independent directorship and advisory services.

Prior to this, Mr. Dobbins was the former CEO & Country Head for State Street Corporation’s European and Luxembourg Banks where he chaired the Luxembourg Executive Group. During his time in charge he grew State Street to be the largest funds service provider in Luxembourg. Mr Dobbins previously led the European Central Bank’s Joint Supervisory Team and Chaired the executive management group and governance committee for several European and Luxembourg banks, including their subsidiaries in alternative assets and transfer agency. Mr. Dobbins is an active member in several Luxembourg government and industry committees.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Carne Group’s CEO, John Donohoe, said: “As a leading figure in the Luxembourg and Global Asset Management industry we are honoured to welcome Martin to Carne. Our clients and the business will benefit greatly from his unique blend of asset management experience and next generation technology expertise. His strategic vision and collaborative approach are aligned with our focus on transforming the asset management industry through talent, technology and trust.”

Martin Dobbins commented: “It’s a really exciting time to be joining John and the team. Carne has experienced years of continuous sustainable growth thanks to its focus on delighting its clients, it’s market leading range of fund management solutions, unrivalled talent and its next generation command and control system, CORR. I believe that with Carne’s client centric and solutions mindset it’s growth trajectory is set to continue and accelerate as the industry enters a new phase of transformation through digitalisation.”