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 of EirGrid.  In this episode of the EY CEO Outlook podcast, Mark Foley tells host Richard Curran the fascinating story of a career that began in chemical engineering and evolved to planning, managing and developing the flow of electricity across Ireland. Mark reveals what he has learned about leadership, powerful communication, and customer experience along the way, and why he believes Ireland is at a critical juncture in relation to our future energy needs and climate change commitments. They also discuss: ·       Ireland’s unique power usage during COVID-19 and what drove it. ·       Why Ireland’s Climate Action Plan is one of the country’s most important national commitments of the last 100 years.·       How to avoid falling into the psychology of defeat and successfully managing risk.·       Brexit’s potential impact on power supply.·       Why the late Fergal Quinn is the CEO Mark has most admired. 

“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 to his interest in public service. In the four years since he joined An Post as CEO, David has overseen a significant transformation of the operational and financial direction of the organisation, a transformation rapidly accelerated by COVID-19. However, despite these changes, David is determined that An Post remains at the heart of communities all around the country, part of the “fabric of Ireland”. In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook, David McRedmond joins host, Richard Curran, for a wide-ranging discussion covering his many years leading private sector companies, up to his decision to enter public service and his experience thereof. Topics include:·        How parcels are overtaking letters as An Post’s core business and how David has adjusted by introducing new workflows and digital technologies·        The unique role that the organisation played in Irish society during the national lockdown·        David’s passion for helping people to discover their talents and progress their careers·        Why Michael O’Leary is the CEO he admires the most·        His favourite book and his love of journalism.  

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, as MD of its Wholesale division. Tasked with rolling out broadband to 300,000 homes across Ireland, Lennon is fiercely proud of what she achieved with the time and budget allowed (connecting 338,000 homes) and staunchly defends the company against its critics.Today, as eir’s first ever female CEO, Carolan Lennon is overseeing the company’s €1bn investment programme to move Ireland’s connectivity to the next level. Having been acquired by telco billionaire Xavier Niel in 2018, Lennon believes that the technologies and synergies now available to eir will be transformative for the country.In this episode of EY CEO Outlook, Carolan Lennon tells Richard Curran about her rise to the top of one of the most competitive industries in Ireland, and her vision for how next-gen telecommunications will transform everything from healthcare to entertainment. They also talk about:·        How the COVID-19 crisis has changed Carolan’s style of leadership for the better·        Female representation in the telecommunications sector – the challenges and her successes in bringing more females into the senior management team·        The experience of being owned by another telecommunications company, and what that means for Ireland’s connectivity·        The other leaders Carolan most admires, her business mantra, and what she would like colleagues to say about her when she moves on from the role·        Carolan’s love of horses, and how it inspired her second tattoo!  

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 Investment (FDI) into Ireland, has helped this country compete on a global scale in the face of intense competition. Martin Shanahan became CEO of the IDA in 2014 and in that time has overseen record levels of FDI employment, exceeding targets set by government in the body’s most recent 5-yr strategy. Shanahan is keenly aware of where Ireland once was, and how Foreign Direct Investment has been pivotal in turning the country into a successful, modern economy.  In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Series, Martin Shanahan tells Richard Curran about his journey from hotel management to CEO of one of the country’s most important agencies, applying his ‘get stuck in’ philosophy at every step along the way. In his role, Shanahan must design a successful strategy in the face of unpredictable global forces such as Brexit, challenges to Ireland’s corporate tax rate, and the COVID-19 crisis. In this interview, he outlines his approach to this challenge, and talks about many other topics besides, including: The most common questions that the bosses of multinational companies ask about Ireland (how highly corporate tax rate ranks on that list may surprise people)   His reaction to the recent ruling by the European General Court on Apple’s tax liabilities in Ireland Why he does not believe that the growth of multinationals has contributed to rising house prices and a shortage of supply.  The skills he looks for in an IDA team member The big sectors of the future and the opportunities for Ireland as a result His business mantra, favourite book and film, and advise for other CEOs  

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 that while the group will “face some short-term headwinds, it doesn’t mean that we should get blown off track completely, because that’s not what’s going to happen”. In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Series, Richard Curran talks to one of Ireland’s best-known hotel operators as he slowly reopens his doors to an unrecognisable and unpredictable tourism market. Forced to shut down the vast majority of his operations during Covid-19 with revenues reduced to zero, Pat McCann set out to develop a clear strategy for retaining senior staff while retraining others, seizing the opportunities that this crisis will present, and developing a post-Covid hotel experience for holiday-makers.  In this interview, Pat reveals how he went about developing this strategy based on his vast experience in the sector and his unique approach to people-management. He also talks about:+Why he predicts a big bounce in domestic tourism, and what the new hotel experience will be like for visitors. +The moment he opened the envelope containing developer Sean Dunne’s record €275m bid for Jurys Hotel, Ballsbridge. +The differences between leading a private company and a publicly listed one, his approach to delivering shareholder value, and his advice for achieving a successful IPO.+How and why he applies an ‘internal-first’ approach to developing management.+His personal approach to work and leisure (they’re one and the same); also, his love of Mafia movies, his business mantra, and the other business leaders that he most admires. 

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 tells Richard, “I’m still wondering whether I follow [crises] or they follow me”. In what will be valuable advice for CEOs in companies of types and sizes, Paul reveals what he has learned about people, leadership, and managing stress during very tough times. Paul Reid has operated at senior levels across several high-profile organisations, including Fingal County Council, Trocaire, Eircom, and The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. He has managed thousands of team members at a time; negotiated with governments, boards, and trade unions; and has been tasked with executing widespread reform of work practices, pay, and staff numbers. Now, as CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid is arguably facing his biggest challenge yet: reforming Ireland’s health service during one of the most severe global pandemics in history. This is a role he sought out, and one in which he deeply believes. In this wide-ranging and personal interview, Paul Reid talks about:+ How his working class background contributed to his effectiveness as a leader.+ Why he felt ‘at war’ with the government, trade unions, Department of Health, and staff, when he took up the role as HSE CEO – and how he handled it. + The key to creating win-wins and preserving relationships during tough negotiations. + His honest thoughts about the handling of nursing homes and private hospital contracts during Covid-19, and whether the 2m social distancing rule should be reduced to 1m.+ His biggest regret, favourite film, business mantra, and the CEO he admires the most. 

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 on EY Ireland social media.