By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): New Mason Hayes & Curran Chair Philip Nolan; Partner and former Chair Christine O’Donovan and Managing Partner Will Carmody
New and notable appointments at Mason Hayes & Curran, Simmons & Simmons, Schneider Electric, Waterways Ireland, NTR, Deloitte Ireland, and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland
Philip Nolan, Chairperson,
Mason Hayes & Curran
Mason Hayes & Curran has announced the appointment of partner Philip Nolan as its new Chair.
Alongside his new role, Nolan will continue to advise clients as Head of the Technology Law Team.
This strategic move underscores the importance for legal firms to have leadership that understand the intersection of law, talent and technology. Nolan’s experience of building high performing teams and advising leading international companies will be integral in his new role.
Commenting on Nolan’s appointment, Managing Partner Will Carmody said: “Building on over a decade of unprecedented growth in Mason Hayes & Curran, this new appointment further illustrates the unique trajectory of our firm. Nolan’s background combines the worlds of complex laws and emerging technology. This will further enhance our client offering as the environment in which they operate changes rapidly. I would also like to thank our former Chair Christine O’Donovan for her dedication over the last four years and wish her well in her continuing role as partner in our Aviation and International Asset Finance team.”
Commenting on his appointment Philip Nolan said: “It’s a great honour to become the firm’s Chair and to be able to work in this role with clients and staff at this exciting time in the market for legal services. As the landscape for legal services rapidly evolves and our clients’ requirements become more sophisticated, the priority will be working with the firm’s management and lawyers to maintain our position as a market leader advising in emerging new areas of law. Key to this will be attracting and retaining the most talented lawyers to support our clients.”
Philip joined Mason Hayes & Curran as a trainee in 1997, became a partner in 2004 and was a member of the firm’s management group for 12 years. Over the last 17 years, Philip has helped grow the firm’s technology team into one of the best known in Europe, acting for some of the world’s largest internet services companies in many high-profile cross-border investigations and cases.
Andrea Brennan, Partner in Dispute Resolution, Restructuring and Special Situations,
Simmons & Simmons
International law firm Simmons & Simmons has announced the promotion of Andrea Brennan to Partner in its Dispute Resolution, Restructuring and Special Situations team. Brennan, advises on high profile commercial disputes and complex restructuring work, including cross-border restructurings, asset recovery and enforcement matters.
Commenting on her new role, Brennan said, “I am delighted to be appointed to partner and look forward to further contributing to the firm’s success and supporting our clients as they navigate complex legal situations”.
Congratulating Brennan on her promotion, Simmons & Simmons Country Head, Rachel Stanton, commented, “Andrea’s legal and sectoral knowledge, and commitment to our clients make her an invaluable asset to our firm. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Andrea to the partnership. Andrea’s appointment to partner comes at a time of continued growth for Simmons & Simmons as we relocate to our new office on One Molesworth Street, signifying our ongoing strength within the Irish market.”
Simmons & Simmons Restructuring and Special Situations co-chair, Ben Jones, added, “Andrea’s promotion marks an important step in the firm’s growth plans for our cross-border restructuring and special situations team. Andrea is a highly respected, experienced and skilled restructuring practitioner and Ireland is strategically important as a restructuring gateway amongst the US, UK and EU jurisdictions.”
Rhonda Doyle, Vice President of Customer Operations in the UK and Ireland,
Schneider Electric
Rhonda Doyle, Vice President of Customer Operations in the UK and Ireland, Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric has appointed Rhonda Doyle as the new Vice President of Customer Operations in the UK and Ireland. This follows the appointment of Kristin Hanley, who previously held the post, to Vice President of Sales Excellence and Marketing for the UK and Ireland business. The new role will see Doyle take the lead on customer care, satisfaction and quality, business systems, business tendering and project management, alongside developing new strategies to transform end-to-end customer digital experiences.
Prior to this, Doyle held the post of Senior Director of Field Service Operations since joining Schneider Electric in 2021. During that time, she has played an integral role in growing the services side of the business to support customers’ digitalisation and sustainability strategies. She has also been instrumental in transforming internal processes, improving performance and service delivery, while helping projects to scale and meet customer requirements.
Doyle’s experience and achievements within Schneider Electric align with the responsibilities of the Customer Operations role that covers all aspects of customer engagement, from the customer care centre to project management and frontline engineers. Building on Schneider Electric’s reputation for delivering a first-rate customer service, Rhonda will review existing processes to refine service delivery with a specific focus on enhancing the digital customer experience.
Speaking about the new appointment, Rhonda Doyle, Vice President of Customer Operations, UK and Ireland, said: “Digitising processes is at the core of Schneider Electric’s overall strategy. Our suite of smart digital monitoring tools contribute to greater energy efficiencies for customers and in how we directly communicate and engage with customers. We’re continually transforming the customer experience across multiple channels, to ensure that a customer service representative is available via a phone call or a live chat. Our goal is to deliver end-to-end solutions that allow us to connect digitally with customers – and respond to their needs faster and with greater accuracy but also cater for the needs of the various business units.”
Kelly Becker, President of Schneider Electric UK and Ireland said: “Rhonda has a proven track record of delivering excellent customer service strategies and her innovative leadership style is exactly what this position needs. Rhonda will help us grow as an organisation and pursue unparalleled levels of proactive customer support. She will reassess our customer engagement approach, equip our teams for success and increase the number of digital connections we have with our customers. This aligns with our strategy to keep our customers as our first priority and continuously improving our support across the business.”
John Tolan, Marketing and Development Controller,
Waterways Ireland
John Tolan, Marketing and Development Controller, Waterways Ireland
Waterways Ireland, the cross-border navigational authority for inland waterways, has appointed John Tolan as Marketing and Development Controller.
Tolan’s role is critical in delivering on the organisation’s 10-year plan which launched in late 2023. His remit includes: sustainable development of the waterways to unlock their social, economic and environmental well-being value potential; growing participation on and alongside the waterways in recreation, tourism and volunteering; increasing Waterways Ireland’s profile.
Tolan joins Waterways Ireland after several years as an independent marketing consultant, providing advice and expertise to clients across multiple sectors. Previous roles include 12 years in the drinks industry with Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard, Diageo and Richmond Marketing, including postings in Sydney, Melbourne, London and Dublin. Tolan was Marketing Director at Boyne Valley Group for five years and has also led the Marketing functions at EBS (AIB Group) and QSat Broadband.
Tolan brings a wealth of experience to the role, as he works with the senior management team on delivering the body’s vision of creating inspirational inland navigations and waterways experiences through conservation and sustainable development for the benefit of all.
Speaking on his appointment, John Tolan said: “I am delighted to take on the role of Marketing and Development Controller with Waterways Ireland. Our recently launched 10-year plan lays out our ambitions to reimagine our beautiful waterways for the public good. Having grown up near Lough Erne I’ve always appreciated the waterways’ importance to local communities and businesses, and their attractiveness to visitors from near and far.
“Working with the wider team and all of our stakeholders and partners, we look forward to attracting more people to enjoy our waterways, while preserving and enhancing their natural, cultural and infrastructural assets for the benefit of current and future generations.”
Donal Tierney, Chairperson,
NTR
NTR, a sustainable infrastructure investor and asset manager, has announced the appointment of Donal Tierney as Chairperson.
As Chairperson, Tierney will play a pivotal role leading the Board of Directors, overseeing NTR’s strategic business direction.
Tierney is experienced in the renewable energy industry and is hugely familiar with the business, having been a Director at NTR plc between 2000 to 2014. His extensive international leadership skills will be a great asset to the Board as he draws on 24 years’ experience as CEO and Current Chair of Bimeda, a global veterinary pharmaceuticals manufacturer and distributor.
In addition, Tierney currently holds the role of Chair of Green Biofuels Ireland Limited, a developer of renewable biofuels and operator of Ireland’s first and largest commercial-scale biodiesel processing plant. He is also the Chair of Sterimol, a holding company for his family-owned subsidiaries.
Tierney holds a BA (Economics) degree from University College Dublin (UCD), in addition to an MBA from The Michael Smurfit Business School at UCD.
Rosheen McGuckian, CEO of NTR, comments on the appointment:
“We warmly welcome Donal back to NTR, this time in the capacity of Chairperson. His longstanding understanding of our business and strategy will bring valuable expertise to our Board as we continue on our mission of developing, constructing, and operating sustainable infrastructure. Donal’s strong track record of effective board leadership and fresh perspective will enable us to continue driving the transition to clean energy across Europe. We are confident NTR will continue going from strength to strength under Donal’s guidance.
“I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to our former Chair, Tom Roche, who I am delighted has agreed to assume the role of Honorary President of NTR. As founding Director and Chair of the Board, Tom’s dedication and expertise has been instrumental in transforming NTR into the business it is today.”
Lynn Guilbaud, Partner in Cloud and Engineering consulting practice,
Deloitte Ireland
Photo caption: Harry Goddard, CEO, Deloitte Ireland, and Lynn Guilbaud, a new Deloitte partner in its Cloud and Engineering consulting practice.
Deloitte Ireland has announced that Lynn Guilbaud has joined as a partner in its Cloud and Engineering consulting practice with a focus on driving growth in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector.
Guilband has over 23 years of experience in the TMT industry. Prior to joining Deloitte, she spent 16 years at Microsoft where she held several leadership roles across Global Operations and Sales, including Director of Digital Sales. Lynn played a key leadership role in the establishment of the EMEA Digital Sales Centre of Excellence and successfully led sales delivery teams in multiple markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Lynn started her career with Accenture and spent seven years there working on large scale Systems Integration projects and ERP implementations with clients across Ireland and the UK.
Guilband brings deep experience in global TMT operations to her new role in Deloitte.
Commenting on her appointment, Lynn Guilbaud said: “Innovation is the only constant in the TMT sector and every day we see more technological developments that are changing how we work, live, and do business. This rapid advancement in technology and AI is creating huge opportunity for organisations, however it also poses many challenges. As a result, it’s more important than ever that businesses get the expertise and support they need in order to continue to lead and innovate. I am delighted to be joining Deloitte to support our clients on this journey. As part of the largest professional services firm in the world we can help drive growth for our clients both locally and across the globe.”
Welcoming Lynn Guilbaud to her new role, Harry Goddard, CEO, Deloitte Ireland said: “Driving innovation and market performance are more critical than ever in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector. Lynn brings a wealth of experience to help our clients navigate this rapidly changing environment. Her appointment strengthens the depth and breadth of our leadership and capabilities in this nationally and globally important sector. I look forward to the positive impact she will have with her team and her clients.”
Anne-Marie Conibear, President,
Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland
Anne-Marie Conibear, President, Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland
Anne-Marie Conibear has been elected president of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI). She is the first woman to be elected president of the ACEI since its foundation in 1938.
Conibear is a Director of JB Barry and Partners, an engineering company which was acquired by Egis Ireland in 2023. She leads major water, wastewater, and flooding projects, including dam-building.
Shane Dempsey, Director General of the ACEI said: “We are delighted to welcome Anne-Marie Conibear as our new President. Her extensive experience, strategic vision, and passion for engineering excellence make her the ideal leader to guide ACEI forward as our sector attempts to solve Ireland’s infrastructure, housing and climate challenges.”
Anne-Marie Conibear said: “I’m delighted to be the first female President of the ACEI since its foundation in 1938. This reflects the ongoing and positive changes in our sector but also symbolises the progress we still need to make over the next decade.
The ACEI has always promoted excellence in the field of consulting engineering. Over this time, our sector has been at the forefront of post-war recovery, Irish industrialisation, many economic booms and busts, a global pandemic, the housing crisis and climate change. Through it all, the ACEI and its members, have delivered exceptional solutions to Ireland’s most pressing challenges.”
Thanks to previous presidents and executives of the ACEI, the consulting engineering sector is recognised for our commitment to quality and safety. In the coming years, the ACEI will build on this reputation so that the sector is as well known for delivering sustainability, promoting diversity, and improving productivity across the built environment.”
Commenting on Conibear’s appointment, Steve Preece, CEO of Egis Ireland said: “Anne-Marie’s appointment is testament to her exceptional career and commitment to the profession in Ireland. We are hugely proud of her achievement, and what it represents in terms of greater diversity in the sector.”
Conibear serves as the Director in charge of international projects at Egis Ireland, where she leverages her expertise in water/wastewater and transportation projects. Her international experience spans across various countries, including the UK, Latvia, Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, and Lesotho.
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