By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Camilla Taaffe, Chief Operations Officer, Hibernia Real Estate Group Limited
This week sees new and notable appointments at Hibernia Real Estate Group Limited, Baker Tilly Mooney Moore, Mazars, Bord Gáis Energy, The Ireland Funds Great Britain and Mortgage Navigators
Camilla Taaffe, Chief Operations Officer,
Hibernia Real Estate Group Limited
Hibernia Real Estate Group Limited announces that Camilla Taaffe has joined the Company and will succeed Frank O’Neill as Chief Operations Officer when he retires at the end of 2023. Camilla has joined from JLL Ireland, where she worked for over 14 years, most recently as Chief Operations Officer.
Tom Edwards-Moss, Chief Executive of Hibernia, said: “We are delighted that Camilla has joined Hibernia: she brings considerable experience in the property sector and in operations and we are looking forward to working with her. Frank is one of the founders of Hibernia and he has played a huge part in its success over the past decade. We wish him all the best for his retirement.”
Camilla Taaffe, Chief Operations Officer, said: “I am excited to be succeeding Frank as Chief Operations Officer and look forward to using my experience to contribute to the future success of Hibernia.”
Hibernia Real Estate Group owns and develops property with a focus on the Dublin city centre office market. It specialises in property clustering and ESG excellence. Hibernia is wholly owned by Brookfield, a leading global alternative asset manager with over $690 billion in assets under management.
Rocel Asuncion, Audit Senior,
Baker Tilly Mooney Moore
Belfast accountancy and advisory practice Baker Tilly Mooney Moore has expanded its Audit and Business Services departments, by appointing Rocel Asuncion and Tiarnan O’Brien to the team.
Rocel Asuncion has been appointed Audit Senior of Baker Tilly Mooney Moore having recently moved to Northern Ireland from the Philippines. Rocel brings seven years of combined external audit experience with her to this role, having worked as an audit senior and audit supervisor with Big 4 and mid-tier firms. Having studied for a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Rocel has been a Certified Public Accountant for a number of years.
Rocel held the role of accounting officer for one of the branches of the largest rental businesses in the Philippines, leading the billing and sales team. She has gained exposure to a wide range of audit clients from the Philippines, Singapore, and Australia, from across a mix of industries, including real estate trusts, schools, and non-for-profit organisations.
Rocel Asuncion, newly appointed Audit Senior, said: “It is great to take on this new role in the Audit department at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. I look forward to working with new and existing clients across all sectors to deliver audit services. The team has given me a warm welcome following my move from the Philippines, and I am sure I will receive excellent support going forward.”
Joanne Small, Audit and Assurance Partner, added: “We are a busy Audit department that provides a quality-led service involving hands-on partnership working with clients. I am delighted to welcome Rocel to our team, as it expands in line with the increasing demand for our services. Rocel’s experience with a wide variety of international clients makes her well-equipped to take on this fast-paced and rewarding role and support the wide range of businesses we work with.”
Tiarnan O’Brien, Accounts Senior,
Baker Tilly Mooney Moore
Tiarnan O’Brien has been appointed Accounts Senior in the Business Services Department at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore in Belfast. Tiarnan has returned to Belfast from London, where he worked in accountancy for over five years, most recently with a mid-tier Mayfair practice. Baker Tilly Mooney Moore works across Audit and Assurance, Business Services, Consulting, Taxation Restructuring and Insolvency.
Michael Branniff, Business Services Partner, said: “We are pleased to welcome Tiarnan to the Business Services team at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. As a growing practice that has the privilege of working with clients of all sizes in Northern Ireland, it is great to have Tiarnan support our specialist team. With his significant experience, I have no doubt that his knowledge will enhance and add value to our service.”
Tiarnan O’Brien, newly appointed Accounts Senior, said: “I am thrilled to begin my new role in the Business Services department at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. I have spent my initial weeks getting to know the client base and I look forward to learning from my fellow colleagues and Partners.”
Chris Monks, Financial Services Consulting Partner,
Mazars
Chris Monks has been appointed as the Financial Services Consulting Partner at Mazars, the international audit, tax, advisory and consulting firm. He will lead the firm’s prudential risk consulting team. Chris Monks will assume responsibility for supporting the firm’s financial services clients in managing their prudential risk and associated compliance. He will further assist in developing the financial services consulting team and work alongside partners offering audit, tax, and other consulting services to our financial services clients.
Chris has over 20 years of experience in providing regulatory, risk management and compliance services to a range of regulated entities including banks, insurance, asset management, EMI and MIFID firms. He is an ACOI (Association of Compliance Officers in Ireland) and a QFA as well as a part-time regulatory lecturer.
Tom O’Brien, Managing Partner said, “We have been investing in building our financial services offering over the last few years and Chris’ appointment in a key service area will help us continue to develop our business and expand the services we offer to our clients. We are now one of the very few practices in the Irish market with such a sophisticated financial service offering and we are equipped to help clients across all facets of their audit, tax, regulatory, technology and compliance needs.”
Dera McLoughlin, Head of Consulting added, “The operating and regulatory environment for firms is increasingly complex. Chris is a fantastic addition to our consulting team. He brings a wealth of experience guiding firms through the complexities of the prudential risk environment and is a great asset to our team and to our clients.”
Mazars offers a comprehensive suite of professional services, including audit, tax, internal audit, conduct and prudential risk, regulatory advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to meet the needs of regulated firms. The Irish practice has experienced strong demand across all service lines resulting in 25% revenue growth in the past financial year and is expected to break €100 million in revenues by 2026.
Denis O’Sullivan, Director of Assets,
Bord Gáis Energy
Bord Gáis Energy has announced the appointment of Denis O’Sullivan and Kerry McConnell to Director of Assets and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. As Assets Director and a member of Bord Gáis Energy’s executive management team, Denis O’Sullivan is responsible for investing in and delivering upstream opportunities to enable the transition of Ireland’s energy system to net zero.
His previous role as Networks Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at Ervia saw him lead the development of a decarbonisation strategy and oversee the expansion of the gas network. Before that, Denis worked for 15 years in the Wind Energy and Waste to Energy sectors and was instrumental in the delivery of Bord Gáis Energy’s windfarm portfolio prior to its sale in 2014.
Kerry McConnell, Chief Financial Officer,
Bord Gáis Energy
Kerry McConnell has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, of Bord Gáis Energy. CFO and member of Bord Gáis Energy’s executive management team, Kerry McConnell will be responsible for overseeing the financial activity of the business. This includes financial performance, investment appraisal and returns, strategic and operational planning, reporting, governance, and controls.
Kerry has extensive experience in financial services and in industry, having previously held key positions at Bank of Ireland, RSA, and most recently, global packaging leader IPL. She has also served as a member of the Strategy Committee for the States Claims Agency, a part of the NTMA. Kerry graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies degree in Finance from Trinity College Dublin, she is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Welcoming these appointments, David Kirwan, Managing Director at Bord Gáis Energy said: “This is an exciting time for our organisation, and I am delighted to welcome Kerry and Denis to the Bord Gáis Energy team. Kerry brings with her years of experience in leading financial strategies for large organisations and delivering positive results. Denis’s insight and knowledge in energy policy and regulation at the national and EU level will be critical as Bord Gáis Energy brings to market new net zero propositions and continues to invest in upstream opportunities to enable Ireland’s energy transition.”
Bridget Walsh, Chair,
The Ireland Funds Great Britain (IFGB)
Bridget Walsh was appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors, of The Ireland Funds Great Britain (IFGB), succeeding Rory Godson who has been the Chairman since 2018. Ms Walsh, who continues in her role as Global Head of Private Equity at EY, has been a committed supporter and active member of the Board of Directors since 2021. Rory Godson will remain as a director of IFGB.
Bridget Walsh, Chair, said: “The Ireland Funds has a prestigious reputation and a rich history. Rory has created a strong legacy through his enormous efforts in building an accomplished, committed and diverse board alongside his huge contribution to the ongoing success of The Ireland Funds. I am honoured to be taking on the mantle and be appointed as Chair of the Great Britain chapter in its 35th year. An anniversary such as this gives us an opportunity to reflect on the great achievements during our history but also to put in place exciting plans for the charity as we work towards growing the impact of our investment in charitable causes in Great Britain and Ireland. I am delighted to be supported by a Board that is both passionate and ambitious about our future.”
Katie Jemmett, Executive Director, said: “It is fantastic to have the opportunity to work closely with Bridget, who brings a wealth of experience to the charity. I would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution that our outgoing chairman, Rory Godson, made to The Ireland Funds Great Britain during his tenure and I am delighted that he will remain on the Board”.
Rory Godson, ex-Chair, said: “I am pleased that we have such an outstanding new Chair. Bridget is a huge figure in her firm and in the wider commercial life of the UK and beyond. I am very proud of what has been achieved over the past five years; including a significantly larger Board to enhance our fundraising and convening power; and gender equality: we are the 50 per cent club, not just 30 per cent! And, with our ever-increased convening power, great events, selling out and raising money for good causes. I always think you should leave the party when you are having lots of fun, and I am delighted to hand it over to Bridget and I look forward to supporting her.”
The Ireland Funds Great Britain marks its 35th anniversary in 2023, having been established in 1988 by Sir Anthony O’Reilly and Dan Rooney. The charity raises funds through events and donations from the Irish diaspora in Britain and makes grants to charities across Great Britain and Ireland under four key pillars: Community Development, Education, Peace and Arts and Culture.
Board of Directors
Bridget Walsh (Chair)
Eoin Bastible
Emily Bohill
Evelyn Bourke
Ruairi Conneely
John Feeney
Emer Finnan
Rory Godson
Garrett Hayes
Conor Hillery
Rachel Naughton
Sue O’Brien
Declan Tiernan
Zachary Webb
Susan Whelan
Karen Coleman, Senior Mortgage Consultant,
Mortgage Navigators
Karen Coleman has been appointed as Senior Mortgage Consultant with Mortgage Navigators, a brokerage that offers personalised mortgage services and expertise specific to the unique needs of self-employed contractors.
A Qualified Financial Advisor with over 24 years of banking experience, Karen Coleman worked with some of the main Irish Banks, including AIB, PTSB and the Credit Union. She joins the Mortgage Navigators team with a wealth of experience in accessing the various major lenders and the unique requirements in relation to borrowing by self-employed individuals and company owners.
The specialised mortgage business is the latest new division of Contracting PLUS, a Cork head-quartered financial services provider that manages accounting, tax and financial advisory for independent professional contractors. Mortgage Navigators’ tailored services apply to first-time buyers, movers, self-builds and investors, where clients are guided with ease through the process, from the mortgage application detail to closing the property sale.
Qualified in banking and law studies, Karen Coleman has expertise in the underwriting and legal process and extensive knowledge of banks’ mortgage processes and lending policies. She is a member of the Institute of Bankers.
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