Pictured: Mark White, James Fitzgerald, Alison Carroll, Seán Mulvey, Daniel Lucey and Stephen Holst, McCann FitzGerald LLP
This week sees new and notable appointments at McCann FitzGerald LLP, Beauchamps, Lewis Silkin, CNH, EY Law Ireland, Deloitte Ireland, ISME, ICC Belfast, and University of Limerick
Alison Carroll, James Fitzgerald, Daniel Lucey, Sean Mulvey, Senior Associates to Of Counsel,
McCann FitzGerald LLP
Anne Maree Igoe and Jeanie Kelly, New Partner in Commercial Real Estate practice and Senior Associate in the Planning & Environment group,
Beauchamps
Igoe has joined from Arthur Cox, along with Jeanie Kelly, who will be joining Beauchamps as a Senior Associate in the Planning & Environment group on 13 January.
Egan, a Partner in the Projects, Infrastructure and Energy group, has extensive experience in construction and projects, across energy and renewables, infrastructure, large-scale commercial and residential schemes, manufacturing and logistics.
“Anne Maree and Jeanie both bring exceptional reputations and expertise to the firm,” said John White, Managing Partner at Beauchamps. “Their appointments further enhance our growing presence in Projects, Infrastructure and Energy sectors, while reinforcing Beauchamps’ position as one of Ireland’s largest and most active commercial real estate firms.”
Anne Maree Igoe advises Irish and international clients on the real estate aspects of acquisitions and disposals, financing and restructuring, corporate mergers and acquisitions and landlord and tenant matters.
Jeanie Kelly advises a variety of public and private sector clients in respect of both contentious and non-contentious planning and environmental matters across a wide range of sectors including renewable energy, utilities, manufacturing, telecoms, housing, natural resources, forestry, food and agriculture.
The Projects, Infrastructure and Energy group at Beauchamps consists of eight partners, supported by a team of 12 associates and solicitors. The firm’s strategy is to combine in the one group market-leading legal counsel in Energy & Natural Resources, Planning & Environment, Construction & Engineering, Procurement, Housing and ESG.
The Projects, Infrastructure and Energy group is led by Ainsley Heffernan, who commented:
“This multi-disciplinary team has been formed to deliver comprehensive and commercial legal advice to our clients across the full lifecycle of their projects. The recent addition of Fiona has significantly strengthened our construction team. I am delighted that Anne Maree and Jeanie, both of whom are market leaders in their respective fields, are now joining the Projects, Infrastructure and Energy team and I look forward to introducing them to our clients.”
Joanne Hyde, Partner,
Lewis Silkin
With over 30 years of experience working both in private practice and in-house with tech giant Intel, Hyde is a specialist in the Irish employment law market, and has strong international connections.
Hyde’s client base spans some of the largest multinational employers operating in Ireland, aligning her practice with Lewis Silkin’s growing Dublin team. She advises clients on the employment law challenges that arise as a result of employment disputes and strategic HR issues, and on defending complex employment litigation in all employment law adjudicatory bodies and civil courts in Ireland.
Hyde joins Lewis Silkin from Eversheds Sutherland Ireland, where she led the employment team for many years.
Her appointment further bolsters Lewis Silkin’s employment team across Ireland, which now comprises eight partners (four located in Dublin), and a total of 19 lawyers.
Síobhra Rush, Partner and Head of Lewis Silkin’s Dublin office, commented:
“We are delighted that Joanne has chosen to join our market-leading specialist practice in Dublin, and know she will be a fantastic addition to our growing and dynamic team. She is widely regarded as one of the most trusted and pre-eminent employment law specialists, while her in-house experience brings real commercial acumen to her practice. Our employment law and business immigration team in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years, and Joanne brings extensive expertise which will be of huge value to our clients and team as our practice continues to expand.”
Joanne Hyde, Partner at Lewis Silkin, commented:
“It’s a great pleasure to be joining Lewis Silkin, which has established itself as one of the pre-eminent employment law and business immigration specialist practices in Ireland.
“Ireland continues to be a destination of choice for major international enterprises which are seeking the opportunities that come with access to top talent and a gateway to the UK and European markets. I look forward to supporting our clients in this environment and helping them adapt and respond to the continued rapid pace of change in employment law here, and the changing world of work.”
Luis Abreu, Chief Information Officer,
CNH
CNH has announced the appointment of Luis Abreu as Chief Information Officer (CIO). In this role, he joins the Company’s Global Leadership Team (GLT), which is empowered to carry out the fast and effective delivery of CNH’s strategic priorities for profitable long-term growth globally.
Abreu brings over two decades of experience with CNH and its predecessor companies. He began his career in IT in 2005 at truck and bus manufacturer Iveco (now part of Iveco Group), subsequently assuming roles of increasing importance, and most recently serving as Acting CIO.
“Luis’s extensive global and regional expertise with our IT organization ideally positions him for this role. Since August 2024, he has demonstrated his leadership as Acting CIO, and we are confident in his ability to further advance our IT organization. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, he will continue to enhance our capabilities, benefiting both our internal operations and our customers,” said Gerrit Marx, Chief Executive Officer at CNH.
Deirdre Malone, New head of Employement Law,
EY Law Ireland
Deirdre Malone leads EY Law Ireland’s employment law team, bringing a wealth of experience from more than 20 years advising clients on day-to-day people issues, workforce planning, restructuring and transactions. In addition to her role on the ELRG, she is also a member of the Law Society of Ireland’s Employment and Equality Committee.
Deirdre Malone said: “I am honoured to have been nominated to the Employment Law Review Group and look forward to working with other members of the Group to advise the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the review and development of employment and workplace law in Ireland, an area which is growing in complexity with each passing year.”
Kate English, Chief Economist,
Deloitte Ireland
English joined Deloitte in December 2022, where she established and led the Real Estate Research team. With both a Master’s degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and French from University College Cork, English has established herself as a trusted authority and commentator in real estate analysis and has showcased her exceptional wider expertise during her time at Deloitte, translating complex economic data into practical strategies for clients.
In her new role, English and her team will conduct data-driven research across broader economic and policy areas, offering analysis and assessing macroeconomic trends within Ireland and its key trading markets.
A native of New Inn, Co. Tipperary, Kate is already a recognised commentator on global macroeconomic trends, fiscal policy, capital markets, demographics and employment trends. She frequently presents market updates and panel discussions across national broadcast and print media.
Prior to joining Deloitte, English served as an Economist with Cushman & Wakefield Ireland and held the position of Senior Economist with Sherry FitzGerald, reinforcing her standing as a prominent expert in market intelligence and economic analysis.
Deloitte Ireland CEO Harry Goddard welcomed Kate’s promotion:
“At a time of heightened economic uncertainty, appointing a Chief Economist is a strategic investment in our clients and the wider market. Kate’s expertise, combined with her clear and balanced approach to economic analysis has earned her a reputation as a trusted voice both within Deloitte and across the broader market. Kate’s ability to distil complex economic dynamics into actionable insights is unparalleled. I want to extend my congratulations to Kate on her new role and I look forward to working with her to provide insights to our clients and our broader community.”
Kate English said:
“Now, more than ever, businesses and policymakers need accurate, data-driven insights to navigate an evolving economic landscape. I’m thrilled to take on the role of Chief Economist at Deloitte Ireland. It offers an incredible opportunity to drill further into the details of complex and often conflicting economic data points and interpret what this data collectively means for consumers, households, businesses, policymakers and our clients. Together with my team, our goal is to help drive Deloitte’s presence as a leading professional services firm in Ireland.”
John Barry, Member,
Employment Law Review Group
ISME also commends the Minister’s decision to appoint John Barry, a long-standing advocate for employers, to the ELRG. Barry is a founder and director of MSS – The HR People, where he has spent over 30 years advising and supporting employers across Ireland in critical areas such as employer representation, mediation, and industrial relations.
Barry has played a pivotal role in the development of employer-focused policy and support structures in Ireland. As a founding member of ISME in 1993, he has remained a committed champion of SME interests, currently serving as a member of the ISME National Council and ISME Board of Directors. John is qualified in labour law, has served on a number of Joint Labour Committees (JLCs), and has represented SMEs for 40 years. His extensive expertise and deep understanding of the challenges faced by employers will bring a vital perspective to the ELRG as it undertakes this important work.
Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive of ISME, said :
“The formation of the Employment Law Review Group is a welcome step forward in ensuring Ireland’s employment and redundancy laws remain relevant in a rapidly changing business environment. The appointment of John Barry to this group is a recognition of his exceptional contribution to supporting employers and his vast experience in industrial relations and mediation. ISME looks forward to working with the ELRG to ensure that the needs of SMEs are effectively represented in this vital review process.”
The ELRG’s remit will include reviewing Ireland’s suite of employment rights and redundancy legislation, identifying areas for reform, and advising on updates to align with international developments and best practices.
Rob McConnell, Chief Executive,
ICC Belfast
McConnell is a Board Director and former NI Head of global technology firm, Expleo.
He has been a non-executive Director on the board of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall since April 2023.
McConnell is a leader in the digital sector in Northern Ireland, with experience growing fast-moving software and technology businesses in local and global markets. His commercial experience in strategic solution sales and business transformation has supported the growth of Expleo Technology (Ireland) and Expleo Group (Global) under his leadership.
As an innovator within Northern Ireland’s startup digital community, McConnell chaired Momentum, the representative body for digital industries in Northern Ireland. He worked closely with public sector leaders to cement the role of digital technology in growing the economy and giving a voice to the digital sector at a period of critical growth.
As CEO, Rob will lead a team of over 300 across Northern Ireland’s only purpose-built International Convention Centre, ICC Belfast, along with the iconic Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall venues.
BWUH Ltd Chair Steve Daniels said: “We are delighted to have secured Rob McConnell as the new Chief Executive Officer of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall, and Ulster Hall.
“Not only has Rob established his own credentials in leadership, business growth and sales development, he has a strong commercial drive and an extensive knowledge of Northern Ireland’s business and public sectors. Having worked closely with him in his non-executive role on our Board, we have been impressed by his knowledge of our industry, his strategic approach to solutions and his passion to drive our venues forward in a data driven, innovative way.
“We are confident that Rob understands the opportunities for growth and development of our business. He shares our vision to create a world-class stage for extraordinary international business and live entertainment events. We are excited to have him in this important leadership role, which has the potential to deliver results not only for our venues but for the city of Belfast and the wider region.
Rob McConnell said: “I believe that the outstanding facilities, together with the talented team of people at ICC Belfast and its sister venues of the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall hold some of Northern Ireland’s untapped economic and cultural potential.
“ICC Belfast is an economic development engine for Northern Ireland. It is the jewel in Belfast’s crown. In recent years, Belfast has been named Best UK business events destination and ICC Belfast has picked up the top accolades as best venue in numerous international conference and events awards. I have seen up close how the team have proven their capabilities working on spectacular events such as One Young World and delivering stunning corporate events for global names including Ferrari, eBay, and AstraZeneca.
“I am confident that the ingredients are in place to make ICC Belfast one of the most sought-after conference and events destinations in these islands and much further afield. It is a great privilege to be leading this forward as Chief Executive and I am very much looking forward to it.”
Conor Ryan, Deputy Director,
University of Limerick
A Lero team led by Prof Ryan has just completed a world-first first with the fabrication and design of a silicon chip without direct human input and patented the process.
The UCC graduate, now Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Limerick, said it is incredibly rewarding to work with engaged industrial partners and hopes their latest patent heralds the possibility of creating a new high-tech export-based industry in Ireland.
“Working directly with commercial entities allows us to tackle critical challenges that push the boundaries of software innovation. At Lero, researchers address diverse issues, from cancer treatment to generative AI to data privacy, showcasing the remarkable breadth of innovation in Ireland,” he said.
Prof. Ryan said that early in his career, he received outstanding help and advice from senior colleagues, most notably Prof. John R. Koza and Prof. Tony Cahill.
“It’s exciting to now be able to do the same for up-and-coming researchers, especially those facing systemic barriers. Being part of a startup and spending time in Silicon Valley shaped my perspective on innovation and leadership. At Lero, I’m excited to help advance software research that delivers impact locally and globally. With every euro invested yielding a five-fold return, Lero’s value to the economy is undeniable,” he added.
Lero’s Director, Prof. Lionel Briand, said it is a major confidence boost for everyone in Lero that a leading machine-learning expert such as Prof. Ryan has agreed to play a crucial leadership role in the centre in the years ahead.
“Ireland depends on Lero as the country’s national software research centre to drive future jobs, innovation, and competitiveness in its large ICT industry. Software development is indeed Ireland’s second biggest industry, worth €66.5 billion to our economy and employing 35,000 people. We need experts like Prof Ryan to lead this research to keep our tech industry at the forefront of global innovation,” he added.
Prof. Ryan encourages both male and female students to take an active interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), as he did during his childhood. He also believes parents play a crucial role in fostering this interest.
“I was just nine years old when my father got our first computer—a Sinclair ZX81 with minimal processing power and only 1KB of memory, which is like a drop of water compared to the ocean of speed and storage in modern mobile phones.
That experience changed my life, and I’ve been fascinated by technology ever since,” he recalls.