By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Nicola O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer, Embrace Community Services and Sánas Ireland
This week sees new and notable appointments at Embrace Community Services and Sánas Ireland, Interpath, SDG, BSH UK & Ireland, McCann FitzGerald, Red Flag Global, and Sysco Ireland
By Emma Montalbani
Nicola O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer
Embrace Community Services and Sánas Ireland
Nicola O’Brien has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Embrace Community Services and Sánas Ireland under a new unified leadership structure, effective from 15 April 2026.
In her new role, O’Brien will lead both organisations as they continue to provide person-centred residential care, respite and support services across Ireland, while focusing on leadership development and long-term sustainability. Embrace delivers residential care services supporting independent living in community settings, while Sánas provides alternative respite and tailored support for children and young adults with intellectual disabilities.
A native of Co. Louth, O’Brien brings more than 20 years of experience leading complex, multi-site organisations through periods of growth and transformation. She is recognised for her people-focused leadership approach and experience in building accountable, high-performing teams.
Commenting on the appointment, James Magrane, Founder and Director of Embrace and Sánas, said, “We are delighted to welcome Nicola as CEO at a very important time for both organisations.”
He then added that Embrace and Sánas have grown significantly in recent years, and Nicola’s leadership of the new unified structure is “a strategic appointment to ensure that we continue to deliver high-quality, person-centred supports while planning for future sustainable growth.”
O’Brien added, “I am pleased to be joining Embrace and Sánas at such an important stage in their development. Both organisations have built strong reputations for delivering exemplary person-centred, high-quality services, and I look forward to working closely with the board and the wider teams to support their continued growth and development.”
Chris Woodhouse, Chair
Interpath
Interpath has appointed Chris Woodhouse as its new Chair, following the completion of a majority investment in the business by private equity firm Bridgepoint.
Woodhouse succeeds Tamara Box and joins the international financial advisory firm at a time of continued global expansion. He brings extensive leadership experience across the professional services, wealth management and investment sectors, having previously served as CEO of Evelyn Partners and the RAC, alongside senior leadership and chairman roles at Isio, Homebase, Halfords, and the Gondola Group.
Commenting on his appointment, Woodhouse said, “I’m excited to take on the role of Chair at Interpath at a time of significant momentum for the business. With a talented leadership team, an increasingly international footprint and the backing of Bridgepoint, Interpath is exceptionally well positioned to invest in its people, capabilities and clients, while staying true to the values that underpin its success.”
Mark Raddan, CEO of Interpath, added, “Chris is an outstanding business leader, and I know his experience leading and scaling ambitious professional services organisations will be invaluable as we continue to grow the firm internationally.”
Michael Kelly, Sales Director for the Republic of Ireland
SDG
SDG has appointed Michael Kelly as Sales Director for the Republic of Ireland as part of its continued investment in the Irish construction market.
Based at the company’s Dublin depot in Bluebell, Kelly will lead SDG’s growth strategy across the Republic of Ireland, supporting contractors with technical expertise, supply chain responsiveness and specialist construction products designed to improve efficiency and build quality.
Kelly brings more than 25 years of experience in the construction supply sector. Having started his career on site before moving into supply and distribution, he has held senior leadership roles focused on sales growth, customer development and operational support for contractors.
Speaking about the appointment, Kelly said, “Contractors don’t need promises; they need suppliers who understand what happens on site when things don’t go to plan. SDG’s approach is practical, responsive, and backed by technical expertise, and that’s what attracted me to the business.”
SDG CEO, Louise Skeath, added, “Appointing Michael is a key step as we continue to grow our presence in Ireland. His experience, industry relationships, and understanding of what contractors need on site make him the ideal person to lead our expansion.”
Charlotte Green, Chief Executive Officer UK & Ireland
BSH UK & Ireland
Charlotte Green has been appointed CEO of BSH’s UK & Ireland business, effective September 2026.
Green joins the manufacturer of Bosch, NEFF, Siemens and Gaggenau appliances from Amazon, where she spent 15 years leading large-scale operations across the UK and Europe. She succeeds Gunjan Srivastava, who stepped down earlier this year.
With more than 20 years of experience across retail, consumer and technology sectors, Green brings expertise in commercial leadership, operational transformation and scaling international businesses.
Commenting on the appointment, Green said, “I have long admired BSH and its brands, both as a consumer and from within the industry, so it is a privilege to be joining the company at such an exciting time.”
Mirko Aksentijevic, Head of Markets, Region Europe, added, “We’re delighted to be welcoming Charlotte to BSH. Her extensive experience in managing multiple portfolios across countries means she is well-placed to continue the growth of BSH in the UK & Ireland markets.”
Various appointments
McCann FitzGerald LLP
Pictured (L-R): Mark White, Partner and Chair, David McCauley, Ruth Hughes, Donncha Sexton and Stephen Holst, Managing Partner.
McCann FitzGerald LLP has announced the appointment of three new partners, bringing the total number of partners at the firm to 101.
Ruth Hughes has been promoted to Partner in the Corporate Group. She advises public and private sector clients on technology, innovation, intellectual property, data protection, advertising and food law matters, with significant expertise in complex commercial and IT outsourcing arrangements.
Donncha Sexton has also been promoted to Partner in the Corporate Group. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, joint ventures and strategic investments, particularly in the energy and digital infrastructure sectors.
David McCauley has been appointed Partner in the Litigation Group. He advises domestic and international clients on a range of employment law matters, including contentious and non-contentious matters, as well as workplace investigations, employment discrimination, protected disclosures, and litigation before the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.
Commenting on the appointments, Stephen Holst, Managing Partner of McCann FitzGerald LLP, said, “Ruth, Donncha and David have each made a significant contribution through the quality of their work and their strong commitment to clients. Their progression reflects the depth of talent across the firm and our continued focus on developing people for the long term.”
Cathal Berry, Director of Public Affairs
Red Flag Global
Red Flag Global has appointed former TD, Army Ranger and medical doctor Cathal Berry as Director of Public Affairs in Ireland.
Berry joins the strategic communications and public affairs agency following a career spanning politics, defence and medicine. In his new role, he will advise clients across various sectors, including healthcare, defence, technology, and energy, while also supporting global regulatory and policy campaigns.
The appointment follows Red Flag Global’s continued expansion in Ireland following its acquisition by Ankura Consulting Group in 2025.
Commenting on the appointment, Deirdre Grant, Managing Director of Red Flag in Ireland, said, “Cathal Berry’s appointment to Red Flag comes at a time of great global uncertainty.” He added that the depth and breadth of his experience, both in national politics and international relations, “will assist our clients to navigate an increasingly volatile geopolitical situation.”
Berry added, “As the challenges facing our world are now more complex and multi-faceted than ever, the provision of expert and timely advice has never been more important.”
Various appointments
Sysco Ireland
Sysco Ireland has announced a series of senior appointments across its operations, culinary, and nutrition divisions.
Gavin McMurtry has been appointed Operations and Supply Chain Director, with responsibility for end-to-end operations across the Irish business.
He leads a team of 1,300 colleagues across the company’s Dublin hub and nine regional centres, overseeing fleet, facilities and supply chain operations supporting more than 11,000 customers nationwide. He previously held senior retail and logistics positions with Aldi.
Keith Piggott has been appointed Development Chef in Limerick, where he will support customers across the South and Southwest with menu development and foodservice solutions.
Previously with Sodexo, he has also held senior culinary roles across fine dining, gastro pub and café environments, and was the recipient of the National Street Food Award at CATEX 2025.
Dr Catherine Logan has joined the business as Nutritionist, where she will support menu development, product innovation and customer nutrition initiatives.
She brings more than 20 years of experience across the food industry, public health and academic sectors, including previous roles with Kellogg Europe and the National Dairy Council.
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Business & Finance, Appointments
Business & Finance, Appointments
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