Here is a selection of people starting new roles with Carne Group, Heneghan, Blink Parametric, VMTV, Albany Beck and Close Brothers Motor Finance.
John Cotter has been appointed as chief financial officer with Carne Group, a provider of fund regulation and governance solutions for the asset management industry. John joins Carne’s board and executive committee and reports to John Donohoe, founder and CEO. He brings more than 30 years of senior experience in finance services. He joins from Wells Fargo Bank International, where he was CFO. He was also finance director and later CEO of IFG Group. He has also held lead roles at Collins Stewart Hawkpoint, Royal Bank of Scotland and Morgan Stanley. He started his career at Coopers & Lybrand as an audit supervisor.
Aoife O’Donnell has been appointed as an account director with communications firm Heneghan. A former employee of Heneghan over 15 years ago, Aoife returns with more than 25 years of industry and educational experience in communications. She previously worked as a healthcare PR consultant for the past ten years, advising organisations across frequently challenging and complex environments. Her experience spans healthcare disciplines including radiology, audiology, dentistry and ophthalmology. Aoife is a member of the Public PR of Ireland and works with the Institute on its education committee. Alongside her qualifications in public relations, Aoife holds an MA in training and Education.
Mark Cudden, who has been appointed as chief technology officer (CTO) for InsurTech company Blink Parametric, founded in Cork in 2016. Mark brings 25 years of experience in technology, digital platforms, and innovation. He joins from we.trade Innovation DAC, a former blockchain-based trade finance platform, where he was head of enterprise architecture, then CTO and later acting CEO. He also held lead roles at Element Fleet Technology, and was managing director of die perspektive. Mark holds a BSc in Software Systems and a Masters in Web Technologies from NNCI, as well as an MBA in Business Administration and Management from TCD.
Zara King has been appointed as southern news correspondent with Virgin Media Television. Zara joined the broadcaster in 2017 and was appointed as a news correspondent in 2021. She has reported extensively on national and international events, and has become a highly respected journalist. Together with colleagues Gavan Reilly and Richard Chambers, she also presents The Group Chat, VMTV’s current affairs podcast. In her new role, the Waterford native will cover the south of the country for Virgin Media News, reporting on local and national stories. “I’m thrilled to return to Munster, my home region, having been born in Cork and raised in Waterford,” Zara said.
Paul O’Brien has been appointed as managing partner for Ireland with Albany Beck, a London-based financial services consultancy firm. Most recently CEO of Delta Capita’s Irish operations, Paul will lead Albany Beck’s ongoing expansion in the Irish financial services market, where first entered in 2018. He has previously held lead roles at PwC, Delta Capita Consulting, eBay, Pfizer, JP Morgan and Bank of Scotland, where he gained invaluable experience in driving high-performance teams and strategic business transformations. Paul is a fellow of Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and holds a Masters in IT for Accountants. Albany Beck recruits, trains and deploys consultants for global financial institutions.
Peter Pedlow has been appointed as director of sales with Close Brothers Motor Finance. He brings 25 years of automotive experience. He will spearhead the sales strategy across the Republic of Ireland, supporting dealer partners in their sales mission. He was most recently head of sales at Volkswagen Financial Services; he has also worked within Close Brothers Motor Finance, Renault UK, and some of the largest dealer groups in Northern Ireland. Peter’s distinguished career includes 13 years in dealerships, five years with an automotive manufacturer and seven years in financial services. He brings hands-on industry experience and a proven ability to drive commercial success.