Board Members

Fiona Ross is an exceptionally experienced public and private sector Chairman and Non-Executive Director, having served on 17 boards in Ireland and the UK over the past six years. She focuses on governance, ethics, digital transformation and digital governance. In 2018 she was appointed by the Irish Government to chair CIÉ. 

Frank Allen was appointed to the Board of CIÉ in September 2017. He is an independent financial consultant, advising on infrastructure investment and operations, mostly in developing and transition economies. He was Chief Executive of the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) from 2002 to 2012. In this period, the RPA had responsibility for building the Red and Green lines of the Luas light rail system and for extending them to the Docklands, Cherrywood and Citywest. Frank is a graduate of University College Cork and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He previously worked for the World Bank in Washington DC, arranging finance for infrastructure development in developing countries and in Eastern Europe and he was Head of Infrastructure Finance for KBC Bank in Ireland. He is Chairman of Depaul Ireland, which provides accommodation and other support to homeless people. 

Ultan Courtney was appointed to the Board of CIÉ and as Chairman of Bus Átha Cliath in September 2014. He has wide experience in the Human Resources and Industrial Relations field. He is Managing Director of his own consultancy business and previously held positions in C&C Group Plc, Superquinn, Waterford Foods and IBEC. He holds a Masters Degree in Economics from Trinity College Dublin and numerous qualifications in the areas of employment law, mediation, arbitration and legal governance.

 

Brian Fitzpatrick is an accountant and experienced financial professional. Prior to joining the CIÉ Board he was Finance Director and Company Secretary of BAM Contractors Ltd., the country’s largest civil engineering and construction company and he continues to be a Non‐Executive Director of that company. He spent the early part of his career in the financial services sector as Financial Controller of First National Building Society which then became First Active Plc. He is also currently a Director of the Housing Finance Agency which is the State Body charged with the financing of Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in the provision of social and affordable housing and is permanent Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Denise Guinan was appointed to the Board of CIÉ in July 2018 under the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts, 1977 to 2001. She joined the clerical grade in Bus Átha Cliath in 1989 and works in Ringsend Bus Garage. She is a member of the Transport and Salaried Staff Association.

Stephen Hannan was appointed to the CIÉ Board in December 2017 under the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts 1977 to 2001. He works as a bus driver based in Ringsend Garage. He is a member of SIPTU and has held a wide variety of positions within the trade union for almost 30 years: President of the Bus Drivers Committee; Vice-Chairman of the Transport Sector Committee; the Divisional Committee, Depot Representative to name but a few.
 

Aidan Murphy was first appointed to the Board of Bus Éireann in April 2013 and its Chairman in July 2014. He was also appointed to the Board of CIÉ in July 2014. Aidan has extensive experience as a supply chain professional having held positions as CEO Pulse Logistics, Managing Director Supply at C&C Group, General Manager Wincanton Ireland and Logistics Director at Allegro Ltd. He has been a keynote speaker to several European supply chain events, including Logicon and the European Supply Chain Summit and is a fellow and Past President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Ireland and is a Non-executive Director of M&M Walshe Group. 

Tom O’Connor was appointed to the Board of CIÉ in December 2013 under the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts 1977 to 2001. He works as a bus driver based in Ringsend Garage. He is a member of the National Bus and Rail Union, sits on the National Executive and has served as Dublin Branch Secretary since 2010. He previously worked in the electrical and signage industry.

Niamh O’Regan has a B.A. (Hons) degree in French and Spanish from Trinity College Dublin, she has a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Dublin City University and she is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. Niamh trained with PWC in Dublin and worked for a number of years in London in the Oil and Gas and Health industries as well as in Banking. Niamh’s experience includes roles in Barclays Bank in London as Head of Business Performance for Barclays Private Clients and Barclays International and also in Dublin as Head of Business Management for Barclays Bank Ireland. She was also previously CFO of The London Bridge Hospital and The Harley St. Medical Clinic. Niamh is a Board member of Children’s Health Foundation and also of The National Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Liam O’Rourke was appointed to the Board of CIÉ on 4 September 2018. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (FCPA). He has held senior executive positions with US multinational manufacturing companies for over 30 years and has extensive experience in finance, HR and ICT. He was previously the Finance Director/Controller of Champion Spark Plug Company and is currently the Internal Auditor with the Irish Wheelchair Association. Liam is the Chair of the CIÉ Audit and Risk Committee.

Fiona is an investment professional with 30 years’ experience in the asset management industry. She has held executive and board roles in leading Irish investment firms including AIB Investment Managers, Prescient Ireland and Davy over the past 18 years. In these roles she has been responsible for the development, communication and implementation of effective business strategies. She has an in depth knowledge of pensions and investment markets and has significant experience in corporate governance and compliance. Fiona holds Undergraduate and Masters Degrees in Economics from University College Dublin and the Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors.

Tommy Wynne was appointed to the CIÉ Board in December 2013 under the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts, 1977 to 2001. He joined Iarnród Éireann as a depot man in 1991 and became a train driver in 1994. Tommy holds a Higher Diploma in International Railway Operations from Glasgow Caledonia University. He is currently President of the SIPTU TEAC Division and Chairman of the Transport Sector in SIPTU.

Lorcan O’Connor is Group CEO of CIÉ since March 2019.

His previous experience includes:

• Director (CEO) of the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). Lorcan established the ISI as an independent statutory body responsible for the administration of bankruptcies and newly introduced alternatives to bankruptcy. It also regulates personal insolvency practitioners.
• Executive Committee member of the International Association of Insolvency Regulators.
• Director in Deloitte Restructuring Services with experience advising companies in financial distress, advising lending institutions in relation to underperforming loans as well as leading many formal insolvency assignments, including Waterford Wedgwood plc (In Receivership) and Hughes & Hughes Limited (In Receivership)
• Council Member of the Irish Society of Insolvency Practitioners
• Financial Adviser in Department of Transport.  While sitting on the Department’s Management Board, worked on a wide range of transport assignments including the Aer Lingus IPO, State Airport restructuring and the Transport 21 investment programme. Also contributed to the development of smarter travel and national policies

Lorcan is a fellow of the Chartered Accountants Ireland and holds a Bachelor of Business and Legal Studies Degree from University College Dublin

Declan joined CIÉ in 2014 having worked in Irish News and Media (INM) for most of his career where he was Managing Director of IN(I)L having previously held the position of Director, Human Resources. He has extensive experience in Human Resources, Pensions and Industrial Relations fields.

Gary Connolly was appointed as Head of Group IT&T in 2010, prior to this appointment Gary held various positions in Group IT&T.

Gary has an MSc in IT Management and has transformed the IT shared service function over the last number of years. Under Gary’s leadership the IT Department has aligned to industry standards and has increased the IT service levels on all CIE Group systems. Most recently Gary led the transition to an IT Managed Service Provider which has significantly reduced the IT risks and increased the levels of service and project delivery across the CIE Group of Companies.  

Colm Costello was appointed as Group Solicitor in 2010. Prior to this, he had been the Deputy Group Solicitor, and before that, was the Senior Litigation Solicitor in the Solicitor’s Office.
 

Colm is a qualified Solicitor, and also holds Diplomas in Employment Law and European Law. He has previously worked in a number of Solicitor’s Offices in Dublin, specialising in Litigation.

Michael Downes is the Head of Group Internal Audit which provides internal audit services to Iarnród Eireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann and the CIÉ Group.  Previously Michael has worked with ESB in a number of engineering management and internal audit positions.

Michael is a Chartered Internal Auditor with the Institute of Internal Auditors and holds a Diploma in Corporate Governance from UCD Smurfit Business School.  He has previously been a Chairman of the Department of Agriculture & Food Audit Committee and was a lay member of the Complaints Committee for Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Michael is also a Chartered Engineer with Engineers Ireland and qualified with a Bachelor of Engineering degree from UCC.  

Geraldine Finucane qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1987 and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland.  She was called to the Bar in 1998 having completed a Diploma in Legal Studies in 1996 and having been awarded the degree of Barrister-at-Law by the King’s Inns in 1998. She is also an Associate Member of the  Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Geraldine was appointed by the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) to the position of Group Secretary in 1997. In addition, she was appointed as Company Secretary to the board of Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail (a CIÉ subsidiary company) in 2004. Prior to these appointments Geraldine was a Financial Accountant in Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus.

Prior to joining the CIÉ Group, Geraldine trained with O’Donovan, Cuddy and MacCarthy in Cork and subsequently worked as an Auditor in Deloitte Haskins & Sells in London and in Caplin Meehan in Dublin.

Ronan Gill was appointed as Chief Financial and Operating Officer in 2019, prior to this appointment Ronan had previously served in senior finance positions since joining the CIÉ in 2012.
Previously Ronan worked with Iarnrod Éireann in a range of senior roles including Chief Procurement Officer and Finance Manager Infrastructure. Prior to joining the CIÉ Group, Ronan qualified as Chartered Accountant with KPMG and subsequently worked in industry in Guinness plc, Unidare plc and Schmidt Industries.
Ronan is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, holds an MBA from Dublin City University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from National University of Ireland Galway.

Niall joined CIÉ in 1990 having gained extensive experience in UK.  He is a Fellow of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.

Sabrina Glynn is Head of Strategy and Group Risk.
Her previous experience includes:

• CIÉ Group Finance Manager
• Iarnród  Éireann, finance team
• Senior Consultant with Deloitte

Sabrina is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Business and Managerial Economics) from University College Cork.