The EY Podcast
The EY Podcast features experts from the world of business offering insights and analysis on a wide range of topics. It covers areas such as the latest CEO outlooks, tax transformation, finance operations, and economic trends. The show provides a comprehensive, cross-industry view of the most topical issues impacting organisations and society.
Episodes
EY CEO Outlook: Leading with Endurance with Laura Trimble, CEO of HSBC Ireland
In this episode of the EY CEO Outlook Podcast, Laura Trimble, CEO of HSBC Ireland joins host Richard Curran to discuss leadership culture, customer-focused banking, and why Ireland remains a stable and attractive place to do business in a volatile global economy.“There are quite a few parallels between doing endurance sports and working ... It requires you to plan, to be organised, to make a sched
EY CFO Outlook: Driving Ireland’s energy transition with Marc van Huet, CFO, Calor Ireland
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Marc Van Huet, CFO of Calor Ireland joins host, Dearbhail McDonald, to talk about building a modern finance engine, why a private, family-owned structure creates space to innovate, and the role LPG and BioLPG can play for rural homes, hotels and industry on the journey to net zero. He also shares the cultural lessons he’s learned in Ireland, the value
EY CFO Outlook: From Stamps to E-Commerce with Peter Quinn, CFO, An Post
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook Podcast, Peter Quinn, CFO of An Post joins host Dearbhail McDonald to talk about his career, the challenges An Post has faced, and why he’s optimistic about the future.“When I started my career, it was before Microsoft Excel,” recalls Peter Quinn. “People thought technology would do away with jobs. Instead, it gave finance more firepower and made us more impor
EY CEO Outlook: Telecoms, Trust and Transition with Shay Walsh, Managing Director of BT Ireland
In this episode of the EY CEO Outlook podcast, Shay Walsh, Manging Director of BT Ireland, joins host Richard Curran to reflect on a career at the cutting edge of telecoms and communications, the challenges of leading your people through major strategic change, and the future of data and connectivity. Shay Walsh’s journey began in Cabra, Dublin, with Irish-speaking roots and a childhood immersed i
EY CFO Outlook: Navigating Pharma Finance with Rob Morrissey, CFO, AstraZeneca Ireland Commercial
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Rob Morrissey, CFO of AstraZeneca Ireland Commercial operations joins host Dearbhail McDonald to talk about his unconventional career journey, AstraZeneca’s growth plans, the role of AI in finance, and why empathy and compassion matter so much to him as a leader. Rob Morrissey’s path into finance was something of an accident. Having spent childhood su
EY CEO Outlook: Business, Purpose and Healthcare with Brian Walsh, CEO of Vhi
In this episode of the EY CEO Outlook Podcast, Brian Walsh, CEO of Vhi talks with host Richard Curran about leading Vhi, combining business with purpose, and the shift toward digital and community-based healthcare.The career path that Brian Walsh has travelled is testament to the early influence of his parents and childhood. His mother worked in healthcare and his father in business, and Brian de
EY CFO Outlook: Building strong financial foundations for professional rugby with Thelma O’Driscoll, CFO, IRFU
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Thelma O’Driscoll, CFO of the IRFU joins host Jonathan Healy to talk about her diverse career path, her passion for growing male and female rugby from the grassroots up, and how the role of CFO enables her to create a strong and sustainable financial foundation for the game.Thelma O’Driscoll’s journey into the rugby world was not a direct one. Startin
EY CEO Outlook: Economics and Optimism with Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec
In this episode of the EY CEO Outlook podcast, Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec, discusses with host Richard Curran his early influences, his approach to leadership, and his vision for Ireland’s economy.Danny McCoy’s career showcases a journey driven by a passion for economics and a deep understanding of Ireland’s evolving socio-economic landscape. Growing up in Tuam, County Galway, during challenging eco
EY CFO Outlook: Ireland’s aviation success story with Aisling Kenny, CFO, SMBC Aviation Capital
Aisling Kenny, CFO of SMBC Aviation Capital, has built a notable career in the aviation leasing sector. She started her career at EY, where she was involved in auditing various clients, including banks and leasing companies. She joined SMBC Aviation Capital (then RBS Aviation Capital) in 2012, initially as manager and head of finance. In 2022, she became the CFO. Ireland has established itself as
EY CEO Outlook: Leading Ireland’s Water Strategy with Niall Gleeson, CEO of Uisce Éireann
Niall Gleeson was 13 years old when he realised he wanted to be an engineer. Influenced by his grandfather, whose love of tinkering and ham radio sparked Niall's curiosity for how things worked, he developed a passion for taking things apart and understanding the mechanics behind them. After earning his engineering degree from Bolton Street College in Dublin, Niall began his career with Gener
EY CEO Outlook: From tech to tourism with Alice Mansergh, CEO of Tourism Ireland
Alice Mansergh, a city girl with a love for the countryside, attended school in Dublin but spent her weekends on the family farm in Tipperary, where she enjoyed fruit picking and digging potatoes. After graduating from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in English and Irish literature, she took a year to travel around Ireland and worked on a novel that she admits remains unfinished and gathering
EY CFO Outlook: Powering Ireland’s future, with Paul Stapleton, CFO, ESB
When Paul Stapleton joined ESB over 33 years ago, it was a very different organisation to the one it is today. In the three decades since, Paul has held ten different roles within the company and has watched first-hand the transformation of its structure, mandate, and the nature of the role it plays in Ireland’s economy and society. Since its foundation, ESB has been critical to the running of ho
EY CFO Outlook: Scaling internationally, making an impact locally, with Anna Savage, CFO, Fexco
Founded in 1981, Fexco is Ireland’s most successful multinational financial and business solutions provider, operating in 29 countries and processing over €3bn in transactions annually. Yet, at heart, it is a family-owned business, proudly headquartered in Killorglin, Co Kerry, that values on curiosity, wellness and community impact.After almost 20 years working in the traditional banking sector,
EY CEO Outlook: Leadership lessons from the world of sport, with Anne McCormack, Hockey Ireland
From the age of sixteen, Anne McCormack knew that she wanted to be a CEO. Having played golf at a high level throughout her childhood, Anne became concerned about the numbers of her peers that were leaving the sport, and realised that the only way to effect change was to hold a leadership position within the sport’s representative organisation. This realisation was the first step in Anne’s long an
EY CEO Outlook: The inside story of Ireland’s biggest ever software deal, with Barry Napier, Cubic Telecom
It was a complaint about the quality of a mobile phone that ultimately set Barry Napier on the path to becoming one of Ireland’s most successful technology entrepreneurs. The owner of the company to which Barry complained liked him, and offered him a job, and so began a lucrative career within the technology industry. But it was in 2011, when Barry discovered Cubic Telecom, that everything change
EY CEO Outlook: Opportunity and AI, with Anne Sheehan, General Manager, Microsoft Ireland
It was the culture of Microsoft that first attracted Anne Sheehan to the company – “It's not about who's the cleverest person in the room. It's about who can be curious, who can learn, who can be creative”. Having spent over 20 years in the technology and telecom sectors working with companies like IBM and Vodafone, Anne has always chosen roles based on the “scale, breadth and depth
EY CFO Outlook: Optimising performance, with Wendy Chang Smith, CFO, Glanbia Performance Nutrition
Ten minutes into the first job interview, Wendy Chang Smith knew that Glanbia was the right fit for her. As someone for whom company culture, values and learning experiences are paramount, Wendy was bowled over by the “wisdom and experience” of the two colleagues on the panel and felt like she had known them for years – “ I was sold, I was ready to join this company.”But the idea of taking on the
EY CEO Outlook: From midwife to MD - a career in care, with Mairead McCaul, MD of MSD Ireland.
On Mairead McCaul’s first day in nursing college, her tutor said something that has always stayed with her: “when you're caring for a patient, you’re in a privileged position and you should always treat them as if they were your mother or your father or your brother or sister or your child”. Mairead carried these words with her throughout her time in nursing and midwifery, working in sales in
EY CFO Outlook: Record revenues with people at the heart, Carol Phelan, CFO, Dalata Hotel Group
Carol Phelan has always loved numbers. Growing up on a farm, she understood how the numbers she was learning in school related to the business of the farm and how it scaled. Accountancy was one of her Leaving Cert subjects, but, for Carol, “accountancy was a set of tools that I wanted to work in Business rather than accountancy as the end in and of itself.”Carol spent the first six years of her ca
EY CEO Outlook: Putting Irish companies on an international stage, with Leo Clancy, Enterprise Ireland
Growing up on a small farm in Tipperary taught Leo Clancy a lot about entrepreneurship. From an early age he understood how to assess the business’s performance in any given year, how to make a profit on tight margins, and, crucially, he learned to “dig in and get the work done that needs to be done and make things happen”. Today, Clancy leads an organisation that supports companies all over Irela
EY CEO Outlook: Rethinking Ireland’s approach to philanthropy, with Deirdre Mortell, Rethink Ireland
In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook Series, Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland, joins host Richard Curran to talk about her passion for social change, the power of people to make positive impact, her vision for a better Ireland, and how this role is helping her to achieve it.From an early age, Deirdre Mortell wanted to ‘change the world’. A very active participant in student politi
EY CFO Outlook: Mergers and transformation, with Ken Bowles, Smurfit Kappa Group
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Ken Bowles of Smurfit Kappa Group discusses the Irish packaging company's recent merger announcement and what it means for their growth. Also, as he approaches almost 30 years with the company, he talks about why people are at the heart of a successful business and how Smurfit Kappa's focus on sustainability now means the same box is used 2
EY CFO Outlook: The power of positive impact, with Tom Hickey, Kenmare Resources
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Tom Hickey of mining company Kenmare Resources chats to host Jonathan Healy about becoming a CFO at the young age of 31, the importance of storytelling in business, his love of the natural resources sector and how ESG is at the heart of Kenmare’s operations in Mozambique.
EY CEO Outlook: Leading the future of food production, with Conor Galvin, Dairygold
In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook series, Conor Galvin tells host Richard Curran about his unconventional journey to the position of CEO of Dairygold and his long term strategic ambitions for the company. He also shares his unique insights into the current challenges and opportunities facing the food production sector.When Conor Galvin became CEO of Dairygold in January 2022, it was a
EY CEO Outlook: The Co-op of the Future, with Jim Bergin, Tirlán
In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook Series, Jim Bergin, CEO of Tirlán, tells host Richard Curran the story of his 30-year journey to the top of one of Ireland’s best-known indigenous companies. Jim leads Tirlán during a very significant time for the company, with a recent restructuring from plc to cooperative, the creation of a new investment fund, and record farmgate prices.Coming from
EY CEO Outlook: Managing risk, reward and relationships, with Enda McMahon, Blackrock Asset Management Ireland
In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook Podcast Series, Enda McMahon of Blackrock Asset Management Ireland, joins host Richard Curran to talk about his journey from the public sector, where he worked with Ireland’s C&AG and Financial Regulator, to his current leadership position with the world’s largest asset manager, and the valuable lessons he has learned along the way. Blackrock is the world&
EY CEO Outlook: Creating the real estate solutions of tomorrow, with Myles Clarke, CBRE Ireland
With clients in over 100 countries and a global team of 105,000+, CBRE is one of the world’s leading commercial real estate services & investment companies. As MD of CBRE’s Irish operations, Myles Clarke has a bird’s-eye view of Ireland’s current and future commercial activity, FDI footprint, and the nature of the post-covid workplace. He is also plugged-in to the incredibly fast-changing impo
EY CEO Outlook: Delivering what matters with Sara Venning, Northern Ireland Water
Sara Venning was appointed CEO of Northern Irish Water in 2014. A love of hard work, solving problems, and improving systems and processes attracted Sara to an industry that is ‘always on’, such as a public utility. It is a sector with its own unique challenges, and Sara thrives on finding a way through them. These challenges include competing for funding from the same pot that education and heal
EY CFO Outlook: Overseeing the financial growth of an Agri sector leader, with TJ Kelly, Origin Enterprises
In this episode of The EY CFO Outlook Podcast, TJ Kelly, Group CFO of Origin Enterprises, tells host Vincent Wall the remarkable story of a career spent in the finance function of some of the world’s most iconic companies. He shares the lessons he has learned along the way, from people management and investor relations, to strategic international expansion and building a brand.Growing up in the fa
CEO Outlook: Delivering life-changing interventions with Dominic MacSorley, Concern Worldwide
In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook podcast series, Dominic MacSorley tells host Richard Curran the remarkable story of a career spent finding hope in despair, travelling the world to care for the survivors of crises, and running an organisation with over 4500 staff across 25 countries. Dominic MacSorley’s first role with Concern Worldwide was a baptism of fire. Posted to the Thai-Cambodian bord
CEO Outlook: The journey to world-class healthcare delivery, with Bill Maher, Bon Secours Heath System
“I think we have a real opportunity here for Ireland to be the shining example of how a health system could be delivered.” In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook podcast series, Bill Maher, Group CEO of the Bon Secours Heath System, tells host Richard Curran the story of his journey from Ireland to the UK and back again, what he has learned about world-class healthcare delivery along the way, and h
CEO Outlook: The rise of a digital giant in Ireland with Jason Ward, Dell Technologies
In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook podcast, Jason Ward, MD of Dell Technologies Ireland, tells host Richard Curran about his personal and professional journey to the top of one of Ireland’s most significant companies, his priorities for the role, and how Dell is leading digital, IT, security, and workplace transformation. .......................The story of Dell in Ireland is a fascinating one.
CFO Outlook: The Irish company that became a global renewable energy player, with Paul Corrigan, Mainstream Renewable Power
In 2008, Mainstream Renewable Power was born out of a belief that renewable energy would become a mainstream asset class. At the time, renewable power was not as popular or investable as it is today, but the company founders had a vision that it would soon become ‘front and centre’ to how we live our lives, and backed themselves accordingly. Today, Mainstream is valued at over 2bn, employs 500 sta
CEO Outlook: Leading through creativity with Deborah Kelleher, Royal Irish Academy of Music
“I became obsessed by the creativity of the business world” In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook podcast series, Deborah Kelleher tells host Richard Curran the story of her childhood love of music, her rise to the highest levels of musicianship and academia, and subsequent transition to business and leadership in the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Deborah Kelleher started playing piano at the age
CFO Outlook: Securing a green future, with Marie Joyce, NTR plc
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast series, NTR plc CFO Marie Joyce tells host Vincent Wall the story of her rise through the ranks of companies including Arthur Anderson, Elan, and Irish Broadband, to her current role, securing a green future with NTR plc.Established in 1978 to build Ireland’s first toll bridge, NTR plc has been investing in sustainable infrastructure since 1999. Solely
CEO Outlook: Leading a not-for-profit with purpose, with Averil Power, Irish Cancer Society
In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook podcast series, Averil Power of the Irish Cancer Society tells host Richard Curran about her unconventional childhood, her love of business and law, and the successful career she enjoyed in politics; and how they all came together to make her a highly driven and impactful leader in the non-profit sector. “A huge privilege that I’m so grateful to have”. Despit
CEO Outlook: Unlocking social media insights for your business
In the world of social media, what is being said about your business can make or break you. How you access these insights in a timely manner makes all the difference. In 2009, when Twitter was still relatively unknown and Instagram was not yet born, Stephen O’Leary spotted an opportunity and started to build a company to do just that – give businesses an ear to the ground on social media.“With no
CEO Outlook: Hardwired for success, with Colin Lynch, EPS Global
In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook series, EPS Global CEO Colin Lynch tells host Richard Curran the story of scaling internationally without external equity, making personal sacrifices to keep EPS Global afloat, and his plans to grow the company three-fold by 2025.For a company like EPS Global, it is a remarkably busy time to be in business. Founded in Ireland in 1999, EPS Global is a distribut
CEO Outlook: Shaping the future of Business in Dublin City, with Mary Rose Burke, Dublin Chamber
In this episode of the EY CEO Outlook series, Mark Rose Burke joins host Richard Curran to share her vision for Dublin city, her views on how to most effectively drive forward the changes required, and the top priorities and challenges facing business leaders in 2021 and 2022.There has been a lot of debate in recent years about the role that large cities will play in the how we work, live and play
Economic Eye: How people, prices, and planet will shape the all-island forecast
Economic Eye host Richard Curran talks to EY Ireland Chief Economist, Neil Gibson, about current key economic indicators and the impact they are having on business across the entire country. In this episode, Neil outlines the findings of the Economic Eye Winter 2021 Forecast: ‘How people, prices, and planet will shape the all-island forecast’Topics include:· Why the all-Ireland economy is in far b
CEO Outlook: Transforming Bank of Ireland, with Francesca McDonagh
When Francesca McDonagh joined Bank of Ireland as CEO in 2017, it was with a “mandate for change”. It was the only Irish bank to have repaid the taxpayer for its support during the financial crisis, and now there were new priorities. Francesca was tasked with widespread reform of BOI’s culture, systems, and business model. The opportunity, not just to transform Bank of Ireland but also to help cha
CFO Outlook: Driving Open Orphan’s sustainable performance and profit with Leo Toole
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast series, Group CFO for Open Orphan, Leo Toole tells host Vincent Wall about how a highly specialised approach to clinical trials is proving very successful for a young Irish company. He also describes how he is helping Open Orphan to “control [its] own destiny…by driving sustainable performance, profit, and cashflow”. Open Orphan is a Clinical Research
CEO Outlook: Keeping public transport on track, with Anne Graham, National Transport Authority
It is an interesting time to be overseeing the management and evolution of Ireland’s public transport network. Not only has the pandemic dramatically reduced passenger numbers on trains, trams, buses and taxis, at least temporarily, but the rapid move towards environmentally sustainable modes of transport is also introducing new and interesting challenges. As CEO of the National Transport Authorit
CFO Outlook: When the sky is the limit with Andy Cronin, Avolon
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast series, Andy Cronin tells host Vincent Wall the story of a Avolon’s remarkable growth from Dublin start-up to a world leader in aircraft leasing in just a few short years. They discuss:· How Andy, an engineer, became the co-founder and CFO of an aircraft leasing company· The story of Avolon’s IPO and his experience of running the finan
CEO Outlook: How an Irish start-up became a world leader with Steve Cutler, ICON
In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook podcast, ICON CEO Steve Cutler tells host Richard Curran the story of ICON’s rise from Irish start-up to global leader in a challenging and competitive field, and his role in that journey. A former Australian rugby international, Cutler sees many similarities between playing on the pitch and leading a contract research organisation (both are competitive “cont
CFO Outlook: Exploring the rise of Kenmare Resources, with Tony McCluskey
In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Kenmare Resources Finance Director, Tony McCuskey tells host, Vincent Wall the compelling story of an Irish company’s rise to the top of the exploration industry. It is a journey involving hostile environments, working with local governments and communities , maintaining relationships with partners and shareholders, and personal resilience.“We didn’t
CEO Outlook: The future of pharma with Audrey Derveloy, Novartis Ireland
As a young science graduate, Audrey Derveloy’s goal was to have a positive impact on society. Now, as a leader of a global medicines company during a world-wide pandemic, that dream is being realised. Novartis employs 1,400 people in Ireland, and the company uses innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need such as Cardiology, Onco
CEO Outlook: Growing good business with Noel Keeley, Musgrave Group
In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook Podcast, Noel Keeley, CEO of Musgrave Group, tells host Richard Curran about his rise to the top of Ireland’s number one grocer, his views on consumer behaviour and how they are changing, and why Musgrave Group’s company values are so important to the group’s success.___________________________________________For Noel Keeley, CEO of Musgrave Group, the basics
CFO Outlook: Building the future with Michael Rice, Glenveagh Properties
“Like anyone with ambition you’re always looking for the next move”. Michael Rice’s career has been punctuated by a series of very significant phone calls, each of them offering him the chance to work in a dynamic new company and environment. And, crucially, every role was a stepping stone to the one that Michael holds today – CFO of Glenveagh Properties. Having worked for some of Ireland’s leadin
CEO Outlook: 2021 EY CEO survey highlights with Graham Reid, EY
What issues are top of mind for the CEOs of Ireland’s leading organisations? This is the question that the EY CEO Imperatives study set out to answer, and the results are revealed in this episode of The EY CEO Outlook podcast series.305 CEOs of the Forbes Global 2000 were surveyed about their perspectives on the DNA of the future enterprise, and the findings provide a fascinating insight into how
CFO Outlook: Glanbia’s journey towards peak financial performance, with Mark Garvey
Mark Garvey became Group CFO of Glanbia in 2013, a time of significant change for the company. It was rapidly transitioning into a global performance nutrition and ingredients business, with acquisitions and joint ventures forming a core part of this successful diversification and expansion strategy. However, in 2019 Glanbia hit a ‘speed bump’ in its performance nutrition business, requiring an
EY Economic Eye: Spring 2021 - Recovery - but at what price?
Economic Eye podcast host Richard Curran talks to EY Ireland Chief Economist, Neil Gibson, about current key economic indicators and the impact they are having on business across the entire country. In this episode, Neil outlines the findings of the Economic Eye Spring 2021 Forecast: ‘Recovery – but at what price?’. Topics include:Two economies at either end of the growth charts in 2020Similar lab
CEO Outlook: Building on 160 years of growth, with Steve Bowcott, John Sisk & Son Ltd.
Steve Bowcott had effectively retired when he got the call about the role of CEO at John Sisk & Son Ltd. Having worked in PLCs for most of his career, Bowcott was intrigued by the idea of working for a private, family-owned company, with a long history and a clear purpose. Now, almost six years after taking up the role, Steve finds himself steering John Sisk & Son Ltd. through what is arg
CEO Outlook: Creating a greener future with Imelda Hurley, Coillte
With 6000 forest properties nationwide, totalling over one million acres of land, Coillte has been a very visible presence in Ireland since its formation in 1989. But in recent months Coillte-owned forests have become a lot more familiar to a lot more people, attracting over 2.2m visitors between March and December 2020. Coillte CEO, Imelda Hurley, is proud to be providing such a vital outlet for
CFO Outlook: Overseeing Ireland’s health budget to make a difference, with Stephen Mulvany, HSE
Managing the finances of any organisation is challenging at the best of times, but when that organisation is the Health Service Executive, and the country is in the midst of a pandemic, the role of CFO takes on a whole new meaning. Stephen Mulvany is acutely aware that the HSE and the services it provides touches the lives of every citizen in the country. As such, his position as CFO is particula
CEO Outlook: Expanding Microsoft's presence in Ireland with, Cathriona Hallahan, MD
“I have been challenged over the last 35 years to be someone I’m not, and I’ve stood firm. That means you have to show vulnerability...to show people who you really are and what you stand for. And when you do that, your team will follow.” Leadership is something that Cathriona Hallahan does not take lightly. Keenly aware that it is a position of great privilege, she has spent a lot of time thinkin
CEO Outlook: Powering ahead with Pat O'Doherty, ESB Group
If somebody had told Pat O’Doherty that he would one day be running an organisation of 8000 people from a room at home, he wouldn’t have believed them. However, that is exactly the position the CEO of ESB finds himself in today. When COVID-19 struck, Pat had two main priorities: to keep the lights on and to keep his people safe and well. Those priorities, alongside his mission to transform the gen
CEO Outlook: Leading the way in sustainability, with Frank O'Keeffe, EY Ireland
In this episode of the EY CEO Outlook podcast, Frank O’Keeffe tells host Richard Curran about his journey through the ranks of EY to the role of Managing Partner, his passion for building a better working world and views on how that world is changing, and what motivates him and helps him to maintain the ‘relentless focus’ his has applied through his career. They also talk about: Growing up in a ve
CFO Outlook: From Quinn Group to Mannok - A CFO's perspective with Dara O'Reilly
In 2011 Dara O’Reilly was Finance Director of the Quinn group when, suddenly, he was called in to a meeting and told it was “lights out” for the company. Receivers had been appointed and Dara’s role no longer existed. Three years later, O’Reilly and a number of other former directors of the Quinn group put forward a successful bid for parts of the business. Today, the company is more profitable, e
CEO Outlook: Scaling a business for the global market, with Anne Heraty, CPL
Anne Heraty founded CPL in 1989 and, 31 years later, in 2020, sold the company for €318m. That journey from inception to exit has involved recessions, a floatation, and the digital transformation of the workplace. However, despite the recent sale of CPL Resources to Japanese firm Outsourcing, it is not a journey that Anne is ready to end just yet. Heraty believes that the world of work is at a fas
CFO Outlook: The trials of a CFO in a time of COVID, with Brendan Brennan, ICON
Trying to explain to people what ICON does is something that Brendan Brennan has found challenging in the past, but not anymore. This fast-growing Clinical Research company partners the world’s biggest Pharma companies to deliver end to end clinical trial services – and with ICON now involved in over hundred different COVID-19 vaccine and treatment trials, the company’s profile and contract list h
CEO Outlook: Managing Ireland’s largest portfolio of private rental property with Margaret Sweeney, I-RES REIT Plc
Irish Residential Properties (I-RES) REIT is Ireland’s largest private residential landlord, providing homes for over 8000 people. However, the company’s CEO, Margaret Sweeney, does not particularly like the term ‘landlord’. As she tells host Richard Curran, “we’re neither Lords nor do we own that much land”. In a country where 95% of residential landlords own one or two properties, the I-RES REI
EY Economic Eye: Winter 2020 - Bouncing back or stepping forward
The EY Economic Eye podcast provides up-to-the-minute analysis of the all-island economy across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In each episode, host Richard Curran talks to EY Chief Economist, Neil Gibson, about current key economic indicators and the impact they are having on business across the entire country. Areas covered include growth forecasts, the labour market, wages, trade
CFO Outlook: Balancing financial stewardship and strategic growth with Myles O’Grady, Bank of Ireland.
The role of the Chief Financial Officer has evolved dramatically in recent years. While managing costs is still a core part of the position, today’s successful CFOs are taking a lead in evolving the business strategy of their organisations and in creating long-term stakeholder value. With thirty successful years in the banking and financial services sector behind him, Myles O’Grady is clear about
CEO Outlook: Thinking outside the box with Tony Smurfit, Smurfit Kappa Group
Tony Smurfit almost became a professional racehorse breeder at a young age, but the call of the family business ultimately led him to forge a long and successful career with Smurfit Kappa. Led by his father and grandfather before him, Smurfit Kappa was the first major Irish multinational company, and today is the number one company in Europe producing corrugated packaging, and one of the leading p
CEO Outlook: The power of investing in renewable energy with Rosheen McGuckian, NTR plc
Rosheen McGuckian had spent a number of years leading the Irish operations of a US multinational when she decided it was time to join an indigenous Irish company. Focussing in on sectors where she could leave a tangible legacy, Rosheen wrote down a list of six successful Irish multinationals for whom Ireland was ‘the centre of the universe’ from a decision-making perspective, and started to knock
CEO Outlook: Building Trust and Purpose in the Irish Banking Sector, Eamonn Crowley, CEO Permanent TSB
Becoming CEO of a large, successful organisation is always a challenge, but taking on the role in the midst of a global pandemic is a very different proposition. However, successfully leading teams through adverse times is something in which Eamonn Crowley, the new CEO of Permanent TSB, has a lot of experience and expertise. His time as a trader during the Black Monday stock market crash was an ea
CEO Outlook: Transforming Ireland’s power system for future generations with Mark Foley, EirGrid
Mark Foley has had a career of two halves. After many successful years in the private sector, the dot-com collapse forced Mark to reinvent his career. There began a long and successful time in the commercial semi-state sector, including leadership positions in daa and Coillte. While at Coillte, Mark had a ‘personal epiphany’ about climate change, setting him on a path that led to his role today as
CEO Outlook: Building a world class postal service with David McRedmond, An Post
“I am patriotic, I love this country. I’m also somebody who likes running big businesses.” When David McRedmond was offered the chance to run Ireland’s postal service, An Post, he didn’t have to think too hard about it. Having held leadership positions in companies such as TV3, eir, and WH Smith, the opportunity to put his skills to work in a “great state enterprise like An Post” appealed greatly
CEO Outlook: Keeping Ireland Connected with Carolan Lennon, CEO, eir
In 1996, Carolan Lennon left her permanent, pensionable job to return to university and complete an MBA. Leaving a secure role, and having recently taken on a mortgage, it was a risky play. However, her decision marked the beginning of a stellar career in the Telecoms sector.After a number of successful years with Vodafone, Carolan went on to join Ireland’s largest telecommunications company, eir,
CEO Outlook: Ireland's success in attracting FDI, with Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland
Ireland’s ability to attract and nurture major multinational companies is world-renowned. The FDI sector has been credited with helping Ireland emerge from the last recession, and, today, multinationals employ almost 250,000 people in Ireland and contribute over €22bn to the economy. At the heart of that success story lies the IDA. The semi-state body, responsible for promoting Foreign Direct Inv
CEO Outlook: Pat McCann, Dalata Group on surviving, re-building and operating in the new normal
After over 50 years in business, Pat McCann has weathered many storms. Starting out in the hospitality trade during the Oil Crisis of the 1970s, McCann successfully steered businesses through the many crises and recessions in the decades that followed. Now, as CEO of Ireland’s largest hotel operator, Dalata PLC, he is facing into his latest challenge with perspective and resilience, understanding
CEO Outlook: Leading Ireland’s health service through a pandemic
What is it like to lead a national health service through a global pandemic? In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook, Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE, talks to Richard Curran about the personal and professional challenges of steering Ireland’s health service through the Covid-19 crisis. This is not the first time Paul Reid has managed a large organisation through a time of deep crisis. As he tel
Introducing The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook
Richard Curran meets the CEOs of Ireland’s leading organisations to talk about world-class leadership, weathering storms and delivering results. You will get an insight into the secrets of their success, the lessons they’ve learned along the way and their plans for the future. Subscribe or follow The EY Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Find out more about the series at ey.com/ie/podcasts or
