By Business & Finance 
Pictured (from l-r): Alison Bearpark and Sally-Anne Stone, Matheson LLP.
This weeks sees new and notable appointments at Matheson, Institute of Directors, Ergo and HCS
Alison Bearpark, Partner,
Matheson
Matheson LLP has announced the appointment of Alison Bearpark as partner in the Construction & Engineering team within Matheson’s Commercial Real Estate Department.
Michael Jackson, Managing Partner of Matheson said; “We are delighted to welcome Alison to Matheson. Her breadth of Irish and international experience in the construction industry will align closely with the existing strength-in-depth of our Construction and Engineering Group. Working with the wider Commercial Real Estate Department, this team’s market-leading expertise is helping our clients to address the challenge of reducing carbon emissions in the development and management of the built environment in Ireland.”
Matheson has one of the most experienced partner-led Construction and Engineering practices in any Irish law firm. It has been mandated on projects spanning multi-building developments, development financing and re-financing projects and capital projects with the largest capital expenditure in this jurisdiction. It also advises the largest developers / sponsors, funders, semi-state bodies, tenants, employers, contractors and designers in the state.
The team’s construction specialists are frontrunners and thought leaders in crafting procurement strategies for multiplex developments and in advising on the full life cycle of large scale developments – from design, building, financing, sale and leasing – as well as in devising strategies to reduce carbon emissions in the construction process and improve the energy performance in buildings for both owners and occupiers. As an integral part of the wider Commercial Real Estate Department, the team has market-leading expertise in complex forward funding / forward purchasing arrangements and was recently bolstered with the appointment of Sally Anne Stone as head of Commercial Real Estate.
Bearpark has 15 years’ experience both in Ireland and internationally, acting for developers, employers, banks, state bodies and contractors on large and complex building and engineering projects. In addition to bespoke forms of contract, Alison has extensive experience advising on all industry standard contracts including NEC, FIDIC, RIAI, JCT and IEI.
Martin Shanahan, Board Member,
Institute of Directors
Pictured: Martin Shanahan, Board Member, Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors (IoD) in Ireland, the leading membership body for directors and business leaders, has announced the appointment of a new President and three new board members at their Annual General Meeting (AGM).
John Reynolds CDir, Chairman of Cairn Homes plc, was announced as the new President of IoD Ireland taking over the mantle from Imelda Reynolds CDir, who has held the position for the last two years.
Martin Shanahan, Partner, Grant Thornton and former CEO and Board member of IDA Ireland, was announced as a board member along with Fiona Tierney, Non-Executive Director on the Board of Eircom Holdings (Ireland) Ltd and Dr Terry McWade, former CEO of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Speaking about his appointment, John Reynolds CDir, President, IoD Ireland, said: “2023 is a significant year for IoD Ireland, as we mark 30 years since our incorporation. I am honoured to be appointed the President of the Institute of Directors in Ireland during this significant time. As the commitment of being a director and business leader evolves, with new and evolving matters, such as the Individual Accountability Framework consultation, and fast developing ESG and Cyber related issues, IoD will be there to support the needs and concerns of its members. Our ambition is for Ireland to be considered an exemplar of corporate governance. We will continue to instil stakeholder trust and confidence in organisations by educating, informing, and supporting directors and business leaders to lead successfully.
“I would also like to acknowledge former President Imelda Reynolds CDir for her commitment to IoD Ireland over the last two years, and the significant impact she had, including the launch of our new strategy. Thank you also to outgoing board members Dan Flinter and Gervaise Slowey CDir for their time on the board. I am delighted to welcome Dr Terry McWade CDir, Martin Shanahan and Fiona Tierney CDir who bring an extensive level of expertise and experience, to the board. I look forward to working with the IoD Executive and Council and thank them for their focus and commitment in supporting our members”.
Outgoing IoD Ireland President Imelda Reynolds reflected, “To meet the growing expectations on directors and our members, I was delighted to have the opportunity to lead the development and launch of the new Institute of Directors (IoD) in Ireland strategy, which includes measures to further enhance the member experience, as well as leading the voice for directors in Ireland.
“I would like to express my appreciation of the work and commitment of each of the members of our Council and Executive during my tenure as President. I am delighted to pass on the baton to John and see IoD Ireland go from strength to strength”.
Martin Shanahan, Director, IoD Ireland
Martin Shanahan, a Kerry native, is a member of the IoD Ireland Council. Martin is a Partner at Grant Thornton, leading the firm’s Industry and FDI activities. He is also a former CEO and Board Member of IDA Ireland. Martin is an Adjunct Full Professor at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business since September 2019.
Previously, Martin was Chief Executive and Board Member of Forfás, Ireland’s policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology, and innovation. He also held executive roles in Fáilte Ireland, the tourism development authority. Martin is an advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion and has been recognised for his leadership on LGBTQ+ matters.
Yvonne Meijerhof, Head of Marketing and Product,
Ergo
Ergo has announced the promotion of Yvonne Meijerhof to Head of Marketing and Product. Yvonne, who currently holds the position of Head of Product will expand her remit to oversee and implement Ergo’s marketing strategy.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the product, technology and services industries, Yvonne currently leads the product management team and is responsible for the design, management and service readiness of Ergo’s Digital Transformation and Cloud Services portfolio. Since joining Ergo in 2018, Yvonne and her team have been at the forefront of driving strategic change in Ergo, leading to an innovative service portfolio designed to deliver more value to Ergo’s customers.
In her new role, Yvonne will support the full breadth of Ergo’s services including managed services (IT & hardware), cloud, applications & software services, IT resourcing and modern work. As Ergo continues to grow its footprint, Yvonne’s remit will not only include Ergo’s three office locations in Ireland (Dublin, Cork and Limerick).
Prior to Ergo, Yvonne held a global position at Dell, where she was Director of the company’s Services Center of Competence and was responsible for the sales readiness for new services worldwide.
Commenting on her new role, Meijerhof said, “I am a huge believer in the value of Ergo’s services, the company and its potential. Our organisation is more global and more diverse than it’s ever been. We have retained the start-up culture of innovation and collaboration that has made us successful over the past 30 years. The relentless pace of change in the IT sector excites me, and there is no better place than Ergo to guide CIOs and their companies as they seek to capitalise on the value of technology today, whilst also planning for tomorrow.”
Paul McCann, CEO at Ergo also said, “Yvonne has not only demonstrated incredible leadership during her time at Ergo, but has a depth of industry knowledge and expertise that makes her perfectly equipped to understand what our customers and partners need to remain competitive and agile at a time of rapid disruption. The announcement of Yvonne’s new role comes at a really exciting time for Ergo, as we continue to invest heavily in our 700-strong team, bolster our sectoral expertise, and as we proudly celebrate 30 years in business this year.”
Eoghan Cooney, Head of Finance and Business Performance,
HCS
HCS, a business IT, security and telecoms company, is today announcing the appointment of Eoghan Cooney as Head of Finance and Business Performance. Eoghan brings nearly 30 years of experience in accounting, financial management, and strategy implementation to the role.
Eoghan will join HCS’ senior leadership team and, in his new position, will lead all aspects of financial management and reporting within HCS. He will be responsible for defining business performance management objectives, which will inform strategically important decisions. The role will also involve shaping, driving, and delivering on the company strategy to maximise business performance.
Prior to joining HCS, Eoghan held senior financial roles with leading Irish and multinational organisations. He was Financial Controller for Bridgestone Retail Northern Europe and John West Foods, and was also Finance Manager with Aviva Ireland.
Eoghan holds a Bachelor of Economics from University College Cork and a Diploma in Financial Analysis from Chartered Accountants Ireland. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Neil Phelan, CEO, HCS, said: “Eoghan brings extensive experience in senior financial management positions to HCS. His strategic and tactical planning skills will be critical as we continue to execute our ambitious growth plans. Eoghan brings a key combination of commercial and financial know-how to the table, and we are confident he will be invaluable member of the senior leadership team going forward.”
Eoghan Cooney, Head of Finance and Business Performance, HCS, said: “I am delighted to join HCS at an exciting time in the growth and development of the company. I aim to leverage my extensive financial background across multiple markets and industries and apply this knowledge to my new position to help drive business performance and to best serve our customers.
“HCS is an indigenous company on an exciting growth trajectory, and I look forward to stepping into this role as we continue to expand and build out our capabilities.”
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