DALATA, the Irish hotel group appoints new Independent Non-Executive Director
DALATA, the Irish hotel group, has appointed Elizabeth McMeikan to its board as an independent, non-executive director. Ms McMeikan is currently a senior independent director at UK pub giant JD Wetherspoon. Dalata, the Pat McCann headed group whose brands include the Clayton and Maldron hotels, is currently developing nine new hotels which will open over the next three years. Having spent her earlier career at Colgate-Palmolive, Ms McMeikan then took up a role with Tesco, where she established Tesco Express in 1994. In 1997, Ms McMeikan was appointed Tesco stores board director for change management and human resources. Today, she is also a senior independent director at UK-based student accommodation provider Unite Group. She also chairs the board’s remuneration committee. In addition, she is a non-executive director at food company Fresca Group.
UK funds firm Merian hires for Dublin office before Brexit
UK-based fund manager Merian Global Investors (MGI), formerly known as Old Mutual Global Investors, has secured four senior hires for its new Dublin office, which opens in two weeks’ time as the firm advances plans to prepare for Brexit. It has hired Link Fund Solutions Ireland’s managing director, Paul Nunan, to become its country head for Ireland. The new Irish unit has also hired KPMG Ireland associate director for financial services audit Geraldine Gleeson as the financial controller, while MGI’s current head of legal and compliance for its Asia-Pacific business, Irishman Shane O’Sullivan, is transferring to head up compliance and enterprise risk in Dublin. Funds specialist Ross Allen, who was hired by Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM) last year as it built up its Dublin base ahead of Brexit, is set to join MGI as a senior investment risk manager.
BMW Ireland to appoint new managing director
Paulo Alves, managing director of BMW Ireland, is to move to the UK to become head of its motorcycle division. He is to be replaced by BMW UK’s retailer development director Kevin Davidson, a 24-year veteran with the company. His previous roles include general manager of used cars at BMW UK. He was also a non-executive director of BMW Park Lane. Mr Alves, a chartered engineer, took on the Irish role in 2014. Recently he has overseen a reorganisation of the Irish operation, with the departure of several members of staff.
Naomi Staff Takes Over as MD of Core Research
Core, Ireland’s largest marketing communications company, has announced the appointment of Naomi Staff as managing director of its research practice. Ms Staff has over 11 years’ experience in market research and joined Core in 2014 as research director. Prior to this, she was associate director of Kantar, formerly Millward Brown.
TBWA\Dublin Strengthens Creative & Strategy Teams With New Hires
TBWA\Dublin has made a number of major senior appointments to its strategy and creative departments including that of Mandy Leontakianakis who joins the agency as chief strategy officer and Des Creedon who has been promoted to executive creative director. Mr Creedon joined TBWA\Dublin from Publicis Dublin in 2014 having previously worked at McConnell’s and DDFH&B. In addition to these new hires both Yvonne Caplice and Aleesha Tully are being promoted with Ms Caplice taking on a business director role while Ms Tully takes a strategy director role as part of Ms Leontakianakis’ team.