By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Dr. Orlaith Lawler, Board Member, American Chamber
This week sees new and notable appointments at Wisetek, American Chamber, Community Finance Ireland, and Standard Life
Bob Truelove, Vice President of Sales US,
Wisetek
Pictured: Bob Truelove, Vice President of Sales US, Wisetek
Wisetek, the global company specialising in advanced IT asset disposal, data destruction, technology reuse and manufacturing services headquartered in Cork City, has announced the appointment of Bob Truelove as its new Vice President of Sales for its US operations. This appointment highlights the continued success and rapid growth of the company in North America.
Wisetek has grown exponentially since it was established by Sean Sheehan in 2007, and has expanded its international footprint to include facilities in Ireland, the UK, the USA, the Middle East and Thailand.
Bob has over 20 years of sales experience in the technology industry and has held a number of senior sales positions with IT asset disposition (ITAD) providers. This extensive experience will help support Wisetek as it continues to further expand its global footprint.
Bob will be based primarily in Columbus, Ohio. As part of the role, he will oversee the company’s sales operations across its facilities in the United States, including in Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland and California.
Bob previously worked as the Director of ITAD Sales and Services with Rand Technology in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to that, he worked as Director of Sales at Computer Wholesalers Inc. in New Jersey. He also worked as Director of ITAD Sales at Arrow Electronics in Colorado.
Sean Sheehan, CEO of Wisetek said: “I am delighted to welcome Bob Truelove to Wisetek. He brings with him a wealth of experience in the area of ITAD sales and has a comprehensive understanding of the industry. He will be a central part of our operations in terms of driving sales, which will enable us to continue to expand our global footprint and enter new markets.”
Bob Truelove holds a degree in Education from Ohio Dominican University.
Dr. Orlaith Lawler, Board of Director,
American Chamber
The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland has announced the appointment of three new Board members, Dr. Orlaith Lawler, Senior Director of Operations, Beckman Coulter, Tulla, Co Clare; Deirdre Mullins, Site Director, Abbott Vascular, Clonmel, Co Tipperary; and Mike Beary – Country Manager, Amazon Web Services Ireland, and Director of HR, AWS Europe, Middle East & Africa.
AmCham is a member of the Government’s Balance for Better Business Advisory Group and today’s appointments mean that the American Chamber has reached the goal of gender equal Board, comprised of 9 women and 9 men. Speaking about the appointments and AmCham’s focus on gender equality, AmCham President Carin Bryans said:
“I am delighted to welcome Deirdre, Mike and Orlaith to the AmCham Board today, and delighted also to note that we have now marked a gender equality milestone, which is a core principle for AmCham and our members. One of the reasons that the Irish operations of US multinational have been so innovative and successful is their commitment to gender balance and inclusion. We see every day the impact this has on effective collaboration and problem solving. It has also been a key factor in the resilience of our member operations during this pandemic. AmCham is working hard to promote gender equality throughout business and our society. We are proud to be a part of the Balance for Better Business initiative. Our members across Ireland are also providing huge support to initiatives to encourage girls to pursue STEM subjects and careers.
I am also happy to announce that our Board has decided that all AmCham Advocacy Taskforces will be gender equal.”
Dónal Traynor, CEO,
Community Finance Ireland
Pictured: Dónal Traynor, CEO, Community Finance Ireland
Community Finance Ireland, the fastest-growing social finance provider in Ireland and the UK, has announced the appointment of Dónal Traynor as the organisation’s new chief executive officer. He replaces Harry McDaid who retired last month after seven years at the helm.
Community Finance Ireland offers finance products specifically tailored for the community sector including sports clubs, community projects, faith-based groups, and social enterprises.
Originally from Cavan, Mr Traynor (44) is the youngest CEO in the organisation’s 25-year history, and the first to come from a non-banking background. He served as Associate Director with Community Finance Ireland since 2014.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Traynor said, “My qualifications in economics and business, and my accreditation from the Institute of Bankers could have easily paved the way to a traditional banking career but after 16 years working in social finance, I have seen the incredible impact that it can have on communities, particularly those that bore the scars of the 2008 recession.
“Since 2004, I have driven the length and breadth of Ireland to meet the staff and volunteers who are changing their communities for the better. From local GAA clubs, to mountain rescue teams, and after-school groups, we worked together to develop new projects or start new building works. At the heart of every single project Community Finance Ireland have supported is the dedication and capacity of the staff and volunteers. They have the commitment and the energy and often they just need the right funding to get an idea off the ground or take the next step. I believe that affordable, innovative and sustainable social finance solutions should be as accessible and common-place as local cooperatives or credit unions.”
“This year we have seen the incredible things that can happen when communities pull together, whether its rising to the challenges of unprecedented times or taking an opportunity to create something new for their community. For me, local community has always been about sport. I’ve played GAA and soccer since I was a kid and now my own children are involved in our local club in Meath. I know what these organisations – whether it’s a sports club, a faith group or a community farm – mean to their communities and the positive impact that they have. That’s why Community Finance Ireland are here, to provide the practical support and advice that communities need to make a change or a dream come true.”
Mr. Traynor has worked closely with grassroots organisations on both sides of the border and managed Community Finance Ireland’s first cross-border community business mentoring programme ‘netWORKS’ between 2004 to 2008, the only programme of it’s kind on the island of Ireland.
Welcoming the appointment, Damian McAteer, Chair of Community Finance Ireland said, “2020 marks a new chapter for Community Finance Ireland with our new all-island brand launching earlier this year and a renewed focus for us to operate on an all-island basis. Dónal has led our team in the Republic of Ireland with ambition and vision for the last 16 years, and I welcome the wealth of experience and commitment he will bring to communities from Ballymena to Ballyhea.
Brian Mooney, End of Career Guidance Counsellor,
Standard Life
Pension and retirement specialist Standard Life has announced that career guidance expert Brian Mooney is to join their team where he will turn his focus from those starting their careers to those approaching retirement. As Ireland’s first End of Career Guidance Counsellor, Mooney will guide retirees, and those due to retire, on how to build a fulfilling second life and avail of the additional 2,000 hours of free time they will have each year once they stop working.
Research conducted by Standard Life has highlighted the uncertainty experienced by those preparing to transition to retirement with a third (33%) of the population admitting to not being personally prepared to retire and over half (51%) struggling to imagine what their retirement will look like.
Further to this, Standard Life’s research reveals that retirement has become a taboo topic in Ireland with over half of Irish working adults unwilling to discuss retirement with their friends or family. Through this appointment, Standard Life aims to energise and empower those approaching and those in retirement by creating supports and sparking positive and informative conversations on how to retire in style.
Mooney, one of Ireland’s most prominent guidance counsellors and regular media commentator, joins Standard Life with over four decades of experience helping people to transition from one stage of their lives to another. He spent 43 years offering guidance to students at Oatlands College, Dublin and is a former President of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and a Director of the Education Finance Board.
Speaking about his appointment, Mooney said: “I have long believed in supporting those entering the second age to use their vast reservoirs of talents for the benefit of their communities and helping them to embrace a more rounded and fulfilling retirement. I am excited to be working with Standard Life in the development of this initiative to help their customers and advisers Challenge, excitement and fulfilment await us in retirement, but it all starts with a different conversation, which we are hoping to ignite.”
Welcoming Mooney, Nigel Dunne CEO of Standard Life said: “Given the times we are in, we believe now more than ever that retirement is so much more than having a pension plan in place and are committed to guiding our customers as they approach and live through their retirement.
“We all acknowledge the value of expert advice when starting off on our careers but we now know that it’s equally important to get the best advice later in life – be that mid-career or approaching the more traditional retirement age.
“Brian, with his decades of experience as a Guidance Counsellor and the fact that he has recently retired himself, brings a unique perspective and skillset which will enable us to support financial advisers and our customers with their broader preparations for this significant milestone. So they can look forward to a rewarding second life.”
Brian Mooney, End of Career Guidance Counsellor, Standard Life
