Pictured: Ciara Foxton, Senior Vice President of Operations of Circle K.
This week sees new and notable appointments at Circle K, Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, Ornua, European Advertising Standards of Alliance (EASA), Landmark Technologies, DLA Piper, Hanover, Manna, Friel Stafford, and Viatel Technology Group
By Olivia DeWan and Emma Montalbani
Ciara Foxton, Senior Vice President Operations
Circle K
Circle K Ireland Managing Director Ciara Foxton has been promoted to Senior Vice President Operations for Circle K Mid-Europe & Asia. She served as Managing Director of Circle K’s Irish business for two and a half years, starting in January 2024, following her appointment as the company’s finance director.
Foxton will assume her new position in July 2026 and will be responsible for Circle K Mid-Europe & Asia, which includes Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Circle K’s Hong Kong business unit.
In her new role, she will oversee the ongoing integration of the Circle K brand and business in Mid-Europe, following the 2023 acquisition of over 2,000 locations from TotalEnergies in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Foxton commented that it has been a privilege to serve as MD of Circle K in Ireland, and “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time leading such a wonderful team of people. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and the business continues to maintain a very strong position in the Irish market.”
She then added that she is “excited to take on this new opportunity as we roll out the Circle K brand in key markets in Mid-Europe. I joined Circle K Ireland in 2018 just as the brand started to become visible on Irish forecourts, and I am excited to go on the same journey again across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as supporting our leaders in these markets.”
Julie Frazer, Head of Product, Underwriting & Intermediary / Partner for Personal Lines
Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC
In this expanded role, Frazer will continue to lead Product & Underwriting, while also having overall responsibility for Aviva’s Intermediary and Partner business within Personal Lines, including portfolio performance, growth, and strategy. The appointment reflects Aviva’s continued focus on deepening its broker relationships and growing its intermediary business.
She brings extensive experience across underwriting and product, having previously served as Underwriting & Product Lead at Aviva.
Before this, she held senior roles, including Personal Lines Motor Product & Underwriting Manager at Liberty Mutual Insurance and Head of Operations at ARB Underwriting. Julie is also the current President of the Insurance Institute of Dublin.
Commenting on the appointment, Joanie Hughes, Managing Director, Personal Lines, Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, said that “Julie’s appointment reinforces our focus on driving sustainable growth and delivering for our broker partners and customers. She has played a pivotal role in shaping our portfolio approach, and her experience and understanding of the broker market will be key as we continue to evolve our Personal Lines offering.”
Shane Henry, Seán McHugh, Managing Director, Head of Global Manufacturing and Operational Excellence
Ornua
In his role as Managing Director, Henry will be responsible for further developing strong, sustainable, and profitable routes to market for Irish dairy products produced by Ornua’s member co-operatives.
Along with a highly experienced team, Henry will lead the development and implementation of Ornua’s route-to-market commercial strategy, strengthening alignment with Member Co-operatives, and driving the global performance of Ornua’s Dairy Ingredients businesses, servicing key international customers across Europe, the UK, the US, and MEA, and the wider Ornua Group.
He brings a wealth of senior-level experience to the role from over 25 years of working in several important management and business transformation and implementation roles at Ornua.
McHugh brings extensive experience and deep industry and business knowledge to the new position from his previous 25 years’ working at Ornua, during which time he held many highly successful management roles covering operational strategy and efficiency programmes across the Group.
Welcoming the new appointments, Conor Galvin, Ornua Chief Executive Officer, said that “the introduction of a more focused and agile global operating model is key to the delivery of our new and ambitious five-year growth strategy, which will drive value for Ornua’s Member Co-operatives and Irish farming families, while serving the needs of our customers across the globe.”
He then congratulated Henry and McHugh on their appointments to two newly-created senior leadership positions, saying that both bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their important new roles, having held a range of senior-level management positions within Ornua over some 25 years.
Orla Twomey, Chair
European Advertising Standards of Alliance (EASA)
Based in Brussels, EASA is a non-profit organisation that brings together 28 advertising self-regulatory organisations from across Europe, as well as 14 European industry bodies representing advertisers, agencies, media organisations and three digital pure-play companies.
Twomey has extensive experience in advertising and self-regulation and has been actively involved with EASA for many years, previously serving as Vice Chair of the self-regulatory organisation (SRO) network and as a member of both its Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Following a successful first term as Chair, her reappointment reflects the confidence of EASA’s members in her leadership and her continued commitment to advancing effective advertising self-regulation across Europe.
She commented saying that “It is a privilege to be reappointed by the members for a second term as Chair of EASA. As the advertising landscape continues to evolve, challenges such as transparency, artificial intelligence and rapid digital transformation require continued collaboration across our industry.”
Adrian Kelly, Sales and Marketing Director
Landmark Technologies
He will focus on expanding the business into new markets, broadening its service portfolio, and driving growth across key areas, including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Kelly will also oversee the development of a new commercial structure and marketing strategy to support the company’s long-term ambitions.
He brings extensive experience in sales, marketing, and business development within the managed services sector, with a strong track record of helping technology businesses scale and grow.
Commenting on the appointment, Ken Kelleher, Managing Director of Landmark Technologies, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Adrian to Landmark Technologies. As we continue to evolve and expand our offering, his leadership and expertise will play an important role in shaping the next stage of our growth.”
Adrian Kelly said: “I’m delighted to join Landmark Technologies at such an exciting time for the business. Landmark has established a strong reputation in the market, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and development”
Jennifer McCarthy, Senior Consultant
DLA Piper
Naoise Harnett, Insurance Partner, Jennifer McCarthy, Senior Consultant, and Matthew Cole, Head of Corporate, DLA Piper Ireland.
DLA Piper, a global law firm, has announced the appointment of Jennifer McCarthy as Senior Consultant in the firm’s Corporate Insurance practice in Ireland, specialising in insurance regulatory and transaction matters.
With over two decades of expertise advising insurers and reinsurers on a diverse array of complex mandates, McCarthy brings a wealth of knowledge to the firm.
Commenting on the appointment, Naoise Harnett, Insurance Partner at DLA Piper Ireland, said, “Jennifer is one of the most respected insurance lawyers in the Irish market, and I am delighted to welcome her to DLA Piper. Her appointment significantly strengthens both our Irish and international insurance practice. Her experience building a leading insurance team will be invaluable as we continue to expand. This appointment demonstrates our capability to act on the most complex domestic and international insurance matters and cements our position as a leading corporate insurance practice in Ireland.”
McCarthy’s appointment forms part of DLA Piper Ireland’s continued investment in sector-focused growth areas and follows a number of recent strategic hires and senior promotions across the business.
McCarthy said, “Much of the Irish insurance sector operates on a cross-border basis, and DLA Piper Ireland is uniquely positioned to support our Irish insurance clients in every jurisdiction in which they operate. I am delighted to be joining DLA Piper’s international team of insurance lawyers and to be able to offer seamless cross-border legal solutions to both Irish and international market participants. I look forward to working with Naoise and the wider team to continue growing our corporate insurance practice.”
Anita Boateng, President
Hanover
Boateng joins Hanover from Portland, where she served as Managing Partner, leading the agency’s public affairs practice through a period of intense political and economic upheaval.
Speaking on Boateng’s appointment, Charles Lewington, Founder of Hanover, said, “Anita combines an entrepreneurial drive with political nous and media fluency in a way that is rare in this industry. She has built a strong track record in agency leadership and is ambitious for clients and ambitious for the business. We are delighted to welcome her to take Hanover to the next phase of growth.”
Boateng advised three Cabinet ministers across five departments, including serving as a Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister from 2018 to 2019. Earlier in her career, she worked as a political producer on BBC Question Time, and is a graduate of Oxford University with an established political voice across major UK broadcast media.
“I’m honoured to be taking on the leadership of Hanover. Charles built an outstanding agency that helped redefine what strategic communications could be,” Boateng said. “As our industry enters another period of change, driven by geopolitical volatility, economic pressure and advances in AI, I look forward to working with the team to write the next chapter of Hanover’s story and help clients seize the opportunities that change brings.”
Jenel Sanders, Marguerite Maher, Airspace Manager, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
Manna
Europe’s leading air delivery operator, Manna, announced the appointments of Jenel Sanders as Airspace Manager and Marguerite Maher as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, strengthening the company’s operational and people capabilities as it expands internationally.
Sanders and Maher bring deep experience in aviation, scaling organisations, and building high-performing teams, helping position Manna for its next phase of expansion.
Sanders will oversee the regulatory and operational frameworks that enable Manna’s drones to operate safely and compliantly across multiple jurisdictions.
“Drone delivery is genuinely where aviation is heading,” said Sanders. “I wanted to be part of shaping that future from the ground up, helping build something entirely new while maintaining the safety standards aviation depends on. Manna isn’t cutting corners to move fast; there’s a genuine commitment to getting the regulatory and safety foundations right first, and that matters enormously to me coming from a safety-critical background.”
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Maher will lead efforts to attract and build exceptional teams across Manna’s growing global business.
“Manna is genuinely a real-world disruptor,” said Maher. “Being part of that journey and helping bring exceptional people into the business is incredibly energising. Great companies are built by passionate people, and what stands out at Manna is the drive, the ambition, and the belief in what we’re building together.”
Remarking on the appointments, Bobby Healy, CEO and Founder of Manna, said, “Bringing in exceptional people remains one of the most important investments we can make as Manna expands globally. Jenel and Marguerite each bring experience and perspectives that will strengthen the business as we continue to shape the future of air delivery.”
PJ O’Brien, Head of Strategic Financing
Friel Stafford
Pictured (L-R): Patrick D’Arcy, Head of Forensics, Friel Stafford; PJ O’Brien, Head of Strategic Financing, Friel Stafford; John Donoghue, ifac CEO, Tom Murray and Anthony Glennon, Partners, Friel Stafford.
Friel Stafford, a specialist accounting and advisory firm, has announced that PJ O’Brien will lead their new Strategic Financing division.
O’Brien joins Friel Stafford with experience in Irish banking and commercial finance, having held a number of leadership positions across the banking sector, most recently as Area Manager with KBC Business Banking.
Welcoming the appointment, Tom Murray, Partner at Friel Stafford, said, “PJ brings a wealth of experience in Irish banking and commercial finance, along with a deep understanding of the challenges facing SMEs, property investors and professional practices. His appointment marks an important step in the development of our Strategic Financing division, and we are confident his practical, relationship-driven approach will be of huge value to our clients.”
O’Brien has built his career in the Irish financial services sector, working across retail banking, business banking, property finance and strategic debt advisory.
Commenting on his appointment, O’Brien said, “I am delighted to be joining Friel Stafford at such an exciting time for the firm. I am looking forward to bringing that experience to bear in supporting clients with growth funding, acquisition finance, refinancing and banking negotiations. I look forward to working closely with colleagues across Friel Stafford and the ifac Group to deliver practical, tailored solutions for businesses and professionals throughout the country.”
Kevin Dillion, Strategic Cybersecurity Advisor
Viatel Technology Group
Dillon brings over three decades of unparalleled experience in scaling global technology giants. A co-founder of Atlantic Bridge, the international growth-equity firm responsible for 36 successful exits and six unicorns, Dillon’s pedigree is rooted in the high-growth ecosystems of Silicon Valley and Europe.
Paul Rellis, CEO of Viatel Technology Group, said, “Kevin brings exceptional judgement and international perspective at a time when cybersecurity has become a boardroom issue in every serious organisation. His experience of scaling world-class technology businesses, combined with our strengths across networking, digital apps and cybersecurity, will help sharpen our thinking and strengthen the way we guide customers through the next era of cyber and AI risk. This is not just about defending against threats. It is about helping organisations move forward with confidence, backed by leadership they can trust.”
Speaking about his appointment, Dillon said: “Throughout my career, from the early days of Microsoft to the deep-tech investments at Atlantic Bridge, I have seen how rapidly the landscape shifts when a new technology like AI reaches an inflexion point. Viatel has the agility and the award-winning pedigree to lead this change. My focus will be on ensuring our customers innovate and operate confidently, knowing their digital resilience is built on a foundation of forward-thinking leadership and world-class engineering.”
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