Here is a selection of people starting new roles with Edelman Ireland, ZeroMission, Royal London Ireland, Social Finance Foundation, William Fry and Irish Management Institute.
Darragh Rea – Edelman Ireland
Darragh Rea has been appointed as CEO and general manager with communications firm Edelman Ireland, reporting to Jon Hughes, EMEA chief operating officer. Previously MD of brand, digital and creative, Darragh replaces Joe Carmody who has taken up the role of COO with Edelman UK. Darragh joined Edelman Ireland in 2013 and has built successful teams and held lead roles, including serving as Interim MD of Brand in Amsterdam. He has been a judge of the All-Ireland Marketing Awards, the Effie Awards and IAPI Female Futures Fund. He is on the board of Triathlon Ireland and is a former council member of Marketing Society of Ireland.
Brenda Shanahan – ZeroMission
Brenda Shanahan has been appointed as director of sales for Europe with commercial EV fleet management software firm ZeroMission. She will be responsible for commercial growth in the region and creating a high-performing sales team to support the company’s ongoing expansion in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Brenda brings extensive connected technology and fleet management experience to the role having spent the past seven years working at Radius Telematics as channel sales director, group head of telematics corporate sales and head of sales UK Telematics. Prior to this, Brenda was business development director for Europe at Anderco Safety and group project director-Marketing at Glencullen Group.
Paul Sutton – FNZ Group
Paul Sutton has been appointed as pension sales lead with Royal London Ireland. He joins from FNZ Group, where he was sales director for FNZ (Europe) DAC; he also introduced the FNZ global platform technology company to the Irish market. He brings extensive experience in sales leadership and business development within the financial services sector. Paul previously founded and grew The Trusted Advisor Group, an outsourced business consultancy. He was later headhunted to launch the disruptive distribution channel Mercer Strategic Wealth in the retail financial planning market for Mercer (Ireland). Paul brings significant knowledge in strategy, business development, sales growth, marketing and M&A activity.
Michael McLoughlin – Amárach Research
Michael McLoughlin, CEO of Amárach Research, has been appointed as chair of the Social Finance Foundation, which has lent over €225m to more than 2,000 Irish not-for-profit community organisations and social enterprises over the past 17 years. He has been a non-executive director of the foundation since 2018. He succeeds Garrett Greene as chair. Having joined Amárach Research in 2000, Michael has been CEO since 2005. He has also previously worked with AIB Bank and in venture capital and retailing. Michael holds MA and MBA degrees from UCD. He is a chartered director and a member of the Institute of Bankers. He also chairs The Irish Youth Foundation.
Stephen Keogh – William Fry
Stephen Keogh has been appointed as the new managing partner at law firm William Fry. Stephen trained in William Fry and was appointed a partner in 2005. He spent five years abroad as head of the firm’s London office and following his return to Dublin has headed the Corporate / M&A Department since 2020. Stephen is a recognised specialist in the Irish M&A market, advising William Fry clients on two out of the four largest M&A deals in Ireland so far this year. “I look forward to working with our teams of talented lawyers and business support professionals and with our clients,” said Stephen.
Shane Quinn – Irish Management Institute (IMI)
Shane Quinn has been appointed as commercial director with the business education centre Irish Management Institute (IMI). A highly experienced commercial leader, he brings more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector, notably in senior roles with Friends First Life Insurance, Aviva and FNZ Ireland. He will shape IMI’s commercial strategy and enhance its service offering for corporate clients. His leadership experience across the financial services sector will bring considerable expertise in strategic planning, managing high performing teams, and client servicing that can support the IMI deliver on its commercial growth agenda. Shane is a keen advocate for continuous learning and professional development.
