Here is a selection of people starting new roles with FASD Ireland, Sedgwick, Cork International Hotel, Dynamo, OutForm Consulting and TEKenable.
Mike Taylor has been appointed as the director of policy and public affairs with FASD Ireland, the representative group for the neurodevelopmental disorder Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Ireland. He spent the last 18 months as a parliamentary assistant in the Oireachtas. Mike is also a non-executive director with Clare Local Development Company, he serves as a peace commissioner for County Clare and he sits on the board of Raidío Corca Baiscinn and is a member of the Enabling Team of Loop Head Together. Mike studied Law with Political & Sociological Science at NUI Galway and is currently undertaking a diploma in PR & Communications from UCD.
Ruth Leggett, CEO of Sedgwick in Ireland, has been named as president of the Insurance Institute of Ireland for 2024-25, having already served as the institute’s deputy president and part of the executive committee. She has over 15 years’ experience in the insurance industry with a successful track record in delivering transformational change. She was appointed CEO for Sedgwick in Ireland in 2021, having also previously working as deputy CEO, head of colleague resources and chief of staff. Sedgwick is a global provider of tech-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, notably serving clients’ specific needs in casualty, property, marine, benefits and brand protection.
Paul Ryan has been appointed as executive chef with Cork International Hotel. Focused on eco-friendly practices, Paul says sustainability is about sourcing ingredients responsibly, minimising waste and embracing eco-friendly practices. He has more than 20 years of expertise in hotels, restaurants and airports, developing dishes for business and first-class airline catering. He was also involved in driving new business in the beef sector in the Middle East and the Maldives. Paul is a native of Mallow, Co Cork. Paul has worked in the Middle East, Russia and USA and brings significant experience in coordinating management activities in large scale food and beverage operations.
Ross Giles has been appointed as creative director of the advertising and communications department of Dynamo, the branding and communications agency. Giles joined Dynamo in 2022 having worked with agencies including In the Company of Huskies, Publicis Dublin and Atomic, working with leading brands including the Guinness Storehouse, Bord Gáis, Virgin and Audi. Róisín Ní Raighne, MD of Dynamo, said: “His impact in Dynamo has been evident since the moment he joined us.” Clients of Dynamo include Eason, ARI, Bushmills, The Sexton, Grant Thornton, Portwest and Tirlán. The agency also appointed multi award-winner Stephen Owen as executive creative director last year.
Darren Hanniffy has been appointed as a director with OutForm Consulting, a business transformation partner specialising in large scale infrastructure and construction programmes. He brings three decades of experience, leading major change programmes in infrastructure, asset management and utility operations. Based at OutForm’s Dublin office, Darren will help drive successful client outcomes. He joins the executive leadership team to contribute to the overall business proposition and ensure an environment where its people, clients, and wider community can thrive. With offices in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh, OutForm Consulting has doubled in size in the last two years and is poised to continue its significant growth.
Kieran Kenefick has been appointed as commercial account manager with digital services company TEKenable, responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of key accounts. He will pursue new opportunities and negotiate contracts with clients. He was previously business development director at Version 1, selling Oracle solutions for two years; before that, he was business development director at Teamsoft for three years. With over 15 years of IT experience, Kieran has a track record in exceeding sales targets, generating revenue and growth, and building long-term client relationships. Kieran holds a diploma in International Trade from Cork College of Commerce and several business and technical accreditations.